[Psychosocial impact of the first oncogenetic consultation in a familial context of cancers of the breast and the ovary].

The purpose of the oncogenetic consultation, is to respond to persons who wonder about their risk of developing a tumour and wish to learn about ways of prevention and detection. The object of this investigation is (1) to study the impact of a first consultation in genetics on the quality of life and the psychology of women with a family history of cancer, and women with or without family antecedents but who suffered themselves from breast cancer at an early age (< or = 35 years); (2) to evaluate their risk perception and their comprehension of the information after the consultation. The study was performed on 200 women attending a first consultation at Institut Curie. Fifty-nine of them had no cancer. Among the 141 consultants with cancer, 54 had developed breast cancer at an early age (< or = 35 years). Their quality of life, their psychological state and their knowledge of the risk of breast tumour were evaluated before consulting and 6-8 months afterwards. Before consulting, their quality of life was altered in some (non-relational) fields but their psychic condition was relatively maintained. Six-nine months after consulting, their quality of life had not deteriorated, but tests results on their psychological state were not as good. The initial psychic condition, itself related to the medical status of the consulting women, was the most significant predictor of their quality of life a few months after their first genetics consultation. After consulting, the women expressed satisfaction with the information delivered by the genetician and their appreciation of tumour risks was improved.