How do women at increased, but unexplained, familial risk of breast cancer perceive and manage their risk? A qualitative interview study

Table 6 Members of Group 4 'Cancer inevitable'

Pseudonym	Age	Family members affected breast cancer	Description of risk	Mammogram		Health provider^a
				Frequency	Age at first
Sue	41	Sister, deceased, 37 Mother, cervical, 59 Grandmother, 50+ Aunt, 36 Aunt, 34	If I'm going to die it's going to be of breast cancer	10 years between mammograms	28	3
Raelene	47	Cousin, 35 Dad, other cancer, deceased, 69	I think I'll probably die of some kind of cancer	Will start at age 50 with Breast screen	N/A	3
Alexandra	51	Sister, deceased, 32 Sister deceased, 39 Sister, 35 Grandmother, deceased, 45 Dad, other cancer, deceased, 70	Time bomb	Every couple of years	35	3
Bobbie	51	Sister, deceased, 41 Mum, deceased, 73 Dad, deceased, 60+ Grandmother, other cancer 60+ Aunt other cancer 60+	You will die of something and we just expected that that's what we're going to die of.	Yearly	38	3
Clare^b	55	Cousin, 35 Mum, deceased, 59 Father, other cancer, deceased, 70	I got it into my head that I was going to get it	Yearly	40	3

a: 1: Regular GP and regular specialist, 2: Regular GP and occasionally specialist, 3: Regular GP only, 4: No Regular GP
b: Felt she had changed her risk perception after speaking to a genetic counsellor and no longer has a sense of fatalism.

ISSN: 1897-4287