Living with the BRCA gene-Experiences of women, husbands and relatives following diagnosis and bilateral risk reducing mastectomy up to 18 months post surgery

12^th Nursing and Healthcare Congress

October 03-05, 2016 Vancouver, Canada

Nicola West

Cardiff University School of Health Care Sciences, UK

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

The BRCA gene and its implications have been at the forefront of the medical, nursing and media news especially since Angelina Jolie disclosed her status and her preventative surgery. Referral rates to breast care centers of women seeking surgery around the globe have increased substantially. Hereditary breast cancer accounts for approximately 5-10% of all breast cancers and women who have BRCA 1 or 2 mutations have an approximate lifetime risk of 60-85% of developing breast cancer and a 50-60% chance of developing ovarian cancer. As a result of these facts many women as opposed to screening, choose bilateral preventative surgery and in many breast care centers around the world, the care of such women is sub optimal or non-existent. Services are geared toward breast cancer patients. There is limited Qualitative research to help clinicians understand what it is like to live with the BRCA gene and the long term experiences of preventative surgery for the women, partners and relatives. This is required in order to meet the physical and psychological needs of such a group. This qualitative prospective Phenomenological study underpinned by Gadamerian philosophy therefore, included eight women with the BRCA gene who underwent bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Five husbands and five relatives also took part in the semi structured interviews. Women were interviewed pre- surgery and again at 6, 12 and 18 months. Husbands were interviewed pre and post-surgery and relatives on one occasion. Results yield rich data that have major implications for clinical practice.

Biography :

Email: WestN@cardiff.ac.uk