Subjective and objective risk of breast cancer in Ashkenazi Jewish individuals at risk for BRCA1/2 mutations

The aims of the study were to (1) examine the differences between subjective and objective estimates of the risk of breast cancer in those being tested for BRCA1/2 mutations, (2) explore new ways to conceptualize risk, and (3) examine the change in subjective risk of developing breast cancer throughout the process of genetic counseling and testing. Participants were 86 Ashkenazi Jewish women with a family or personal history indicating risk for BRCA1/2 mutations. Surveys to assess subjective risk of breast cancer (percentage risk, projected age of onset, and survival time) were administered before counseling, after counseling, and after receipt of test results. Subjective percentage risk of breast cancer was compared to estimated objective risk to determine accuracy. Those with no personal history of cancer receiving positive results became more accurate from post-counseling to post-result. Those receiving positive results increased their estimate of their percentage risk, and those receiving uninformativ...