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

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Abstract

Aim To document the prevalence of family history of breast cancer (BC) amongst women newly-diagnosed with invasive BC and to explore the relationship between family history and cancer size and stage. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on baseline questionnaire data from a cohort study of 1,684 women diagnosed with invasive BC within the previous 12 months and recruited between 2004 and 2006 in Victoria, Australia. Results Women with affected first degree relative(s) were more likely to have a smaller BC (odds ratio for ≤10 mm 1.74, 95% CI: 1.32–2.29) and stage I BC (odds ratio 1.31, 95% CI: 1.01–1.70) at diagnosis than women with no affected relatives. There was no significant difference in BC size and stage between women with only affected second degree relatives and women with no affected relatives. Conclusions Women with a first degree relative with BC had smaller, earlier stage cancers at diagnosis, possibly reflecting more diligent use of breast screening amongst women who considered themselves at increased risk of developing the disease.

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Abbreviations

BC:

Breast cancer

CI:

Confidence interval

EQ:

Enrolment questionnaire

OR:

Odds ratio

TNM:

Tumour node metastasis

VCR:

Victorian cancer registry

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the MBF Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Grant no. 219279), Novartis Oncology Australia, the L.E.W. Carity Trust, the Jack and Robert Smorgon Families Foundation, Connie and Craig Kimberley and Roy Morgan Research. The authors wish to thank the study participants and the members of the Study Advisory Group: Dr. Jacquie Chirgwin, A/Professor John Collins, Professor Graham Giles, Mr. Peter Gregory, Mr. Stewart Hart, Miss. Suzanne Neil, Ms. Onella Stagoll and Mrs. Avis McPhee. We thank Melisa Bagnato and Julie de Crespigny from The Cancer Council Victoria for their contribution to recruitment. We also wish to thank Breast Cancer Network Australia for their review of the study questionnaire. Finally, we thank Professor Graham Giles, Director of the Victorian Cancer Registry, for his ongoing support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Health Program, Department of Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia

    Marijana Lijovic, Susan R. Davis, Pam Fradkin, Jo Bradbury, Maria La China & Robin J. Bell

  2. Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia

    Max Schwarz

  3. Bayside Health, Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia

    Max Schwarz

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Rory Wolfe

  5. Victorian Cancer Registry, The Cancer Council Victoria, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia

    Helen Farrugia

Authors
  1. Marijana Lijovic
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  2. Susan R. Davis
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  3. Pam Fradkin
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  4. Jo Bradbury
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  8. Helen Farrugia
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  9. Robin J. Bell
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Correspondence to Robin J. Bell.

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Lijovic, M., Davis, S.R., Fradkin, P. et al. The relationship between knowledge of family history and cancer characteristics at diagnosis in women newly-diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Familial Cancer 8, 299–305 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-009-9236-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-009-9236-x

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