http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10689-009-9265-5
pubmed: 19642022
scopus: 70449535546
Attitude towards pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for hereditary cancer
December 2009
Article
| Related Files |
|---|
View PDF Version
(19642022_OA.pdf, 0.3MB) |
The use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for hereditary cancer is subject to on-going debate, particularly among professionals. This study evaluates the attitude towards PGD and attitude-associated characteristics of those concerned: family members with a hereditary cancer predisposition. Forty-eight Von Hippel-Lindau and 18 Li-Fraumeni Syndrome families were identified via the 9 family cancer clinics in the Netherlands. In total, 216 high risk family members and partners were approached, of whom 179 (83%) completed a self-report questionnaire. Of the high risk family members, 35% expressed a positive attitude towards PGD. Those with a current desire to have children were significantly more likely to have a positive attitude: 48% would consider the use of PGD. No other sociodemographic, medical or psychosocial variables were associated significantly with a positive attitude. The most frequently reported advantage of PGD is the avoidance of a possible pregnancy termination. Uncertainty about late effects was the most frequently reported disadvantage. These results indicate that approximately half of those contemplating a future pregnancy would consider the use of PGD. The actual uptake, however, is expected to be lower. There is no indication that psychosocial factors affect interest in PGD.
- Attitude
- Hereditary cancer
- Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
- Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS)
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL)
- cancer
- family
- attitude
- study
- member
- signi ficantly
- netherland
- diagnosis
- children
- risk family members
- syndrome
- family members
- signi
- partner
- carrier
- predisposition
- mutation
- cancer predisposition
- individual
- advantage
