Supporting people to make decisions about genetic testing after breast cancer diagnosis
There are many complex decisions people diagnosed with breast cancer need to make. Professor Claire Foster and her team are creating a resource to help people make confident decisions about genetic testing, based on what’s important to them.
What's the challenge?
Some people have increased risk of developing breast cancer because of inherited altered genes. Genetic testing is used to find out whether an altered gene runs in the family.
More people are now offered genetic testing following a breast cancer diagnosis, as the results can change how their cancer is treated. But it’s up to them to decide if they want to do it. And deciding whether to have genetic testing can be a difficult process.
The information gained from genetic testing can be complex and have life-changing implications for them and their family. People also have very limited time to discuss and think about their options.
Going through a breast cancer diagnosis is already a very difficult time. Being asked to make complex decisions that may not only influence your health, but also the health of your loved ones, is a lot of responsibility. With more and more people being offered genetic testing after breast cancer diagnosis, our team wants to support them to make decisions that are right for them.
The science behind the project
With Breast Cancer Now funding, Claire and her team previously created a website that can help women to make decisions about genetic testing, called Breast Cancer Choices. It was co-designed with younger women with breast cancer. They were most likely to be offered genetic testing after diagnosis.
Now, genetic testing after breast cancer diagnosis is offered to more people, and each person’s circumstances can be different. So the researchers want to make sure Breast Cancer Choices works for everyone.
They’re working with people with breast cancer including women over 50 years old, men, gender-diverse people and people from ethnically diverse groups to understand their experiences and perspectives. Claire hopes to improve how many people can benefit from Breast Cancer Choices.
The team also wants to introduce this decision-making support to NHS hospitals and charities across the UK. To do this, they’ll work with healthcare professionals, NHS leaders and others to find a way to make it happen.
What difference will this project make?
This research could help people with breast cancer confidently decide if they want genetic testing or not. It will help them understand how this decision aligns with what matters most to them and what the results could mean for them and their families.
How many people could this project help?
Each year in the UK 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer, and Claire’s research could help the increasing number of people who are eligible for genetic testing.
Contact us
Whether you're looking for support, advice, or just someone to talk to, our team are here for you.