Genetics: breast cancer as an exemplar.

Genetic testing for adult-onset diseases is now available. One such test is for the mutations present in the BRCA gene that result in a significantly higher risk for the development of breast cancer or ovarian cancer. Women who have one of these mutations face difficult choices in terms of increased surveillance or prophylactic surgeries. Examining experiences of women with BRCA mutations can serve as an exemplar for other populations at risk for genetically associated adult-onset diseases.