Are surgeons effective counsellors for women with a family history of breast cancer?

AIM: In the TRACE (Trial of Genetic Assessment in Breast Cancer) study, the data on the time spent by the surgeon with the women with a family history of breast cancer was analysed with respect to the changes in the anxiety scores and breast cancer worry scores. We wanted to see whether longer consultation times with surgeons improved these scores.

METHODS

In the TRACE study, women with a family history of breast cancer attended a standard breast clinic to be seen by a surgeon and nurse specialist. Anxiety scores and breast cancer worry scores of these women were recorded prior to attending the clinic and immediately after their appointment.

RESULTS

In the 274 evaluable women, there was a significant improvement in the anxiety and breast cancer worries after surgical consultation but it did not correlate with the length of surgical consultation. However, women in the high-risk group showed a significant reduction of breast cancer worry score with longer consultation (P=0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

Spending more time with the women with a family history of breast cancer does not help to reduce anxiety scores and breast cancer worry scores except in the subset of women who were told that their risk of breast cancer was high.