The relationship between knowledge of family history and cancer characteristics at diagnosis in women newly-diagnosed with invasive breast cancer

Summary

The aim of this cross-sectional analysis was to document known family history and to investigate any relationship between this knowledge and the stage and size of invasive breast cancer at the time of diagnosis.

The analysis was performed on data from the first questionnaire of the MBF Health and Wellbeing after Breast Cancer study. 1684 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2004 and 2006 in the state of Victoria joined the study and completed the baseline questionnaire within 12 months of their diagnosis.

The results indicated that women who knew that they had a first degree relative with a previous diagnosis of invasive breast cancer were more likely to have a smaller earlier- stage cancer at diagnosis than women with no known affected relatives.

The conclusion of the study was that women who consider themselves to be at an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer due to a family history are possibly more diligent with regular screening for the disease.