Cancer worry among BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers choosing surgery to prevent tubal/ovarian cancer: course over time and associated factors

M.H.D. van Bommel*, M.P. Steenbeek, J. IntHout, R.P.M.G. Hermens, N. Hoogerbrugge, M.G. Harmsen, H.C. van Doorn, M.J.E. Mourits, M. van Beurden, R.P. Zweemer, K.N. Gaarenstroom, B.F.M. Slangen, M.M.A. Brood-van Zanten, M.C. Vos, J.M. Piek, L.R.C.W. van Lonkhuijzen, M.J.A. Apperloo, S.F.P.J. Coppus, J.B. Prins, J.A.E. CustersJ.A. de Hullu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective High cancer risks, as applicable to BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variant (PV) carriers, can induce significant cancer concerns. We examined the degree of cancer worry and the course of this worry among BRCA1/2-PV carriers undergoing surgery to prevent ovarian cancer, and identified factors associated with high cancer worry. Methods Cancer worry was evaluated as part of the multicentre, prospective TUBA-study (NCT02321228) in which BRCA1/2-PV carriers choose either novel risk-reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy or standard risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. The Cancer Worry Scale was obtained before and 3 and 12 months after surgery. Cancer worry patterns were analysed using latent class growth analysis and associated factors were identified with regression analysis. Results Of all 577 BRCA1/2-PV carriers, 320 (57%) had high (>= 14) cancer worry pre-surgery, and 54% had lower worry 12 months post-surgery than pre-surgery. Based on patterns over time, BRCA1/2-PV carriers could be classified into three groups: persistently low cancer worry (56%), persistently high cancer worry (6%), and fluctuating, mostly declining, cancer worry (37%). Factors associated with persistently high cancer concerns were age below 35 (BRCA1) or 40 (BRCA2), unemployment, previous breast cancer, lower education and a more recent BRCA1/2-PV diagnosis. Conclusions Some degree of cancer worry is considered normal, and most BRCA1/2-PV carriers have declining cancer worry after gynaecological risk-reducing surgery. However, a subset of these BRCA1/2-PV carriers has persisting major cancer concerns up to 1 year after surgery. They should be identified and potentially offered additional support.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3409-3418
Number of pages10
JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
Volume30
Issue number4
Early online date8 Jan 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • BRCA gene
  • Cancer worry
  • Psychology
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy
  • Salpingectomy
  • QUALITY-OF-LIFE
  • BREAST-CANCER
  • FAMILY-HISTORY
  • OVARIAN-CANCER
  • COLORECTAL-CANCER
  • PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
  • SALPINGO-OOPHORECTOMY
  • WOMEN
  • RECURRENCE
  • FEAR

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