Newswise — Mount Sinai School of Medicine is Testing Several Approaches to Counseling Women with Family or Personal Histories of Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer

The diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer in one member of a family can have repercussions for daughters, sisters, mothers, and other relatives. The knowledge that these cancers can run in families raises questions about risk and concerns about what steps can and should be taken for prevention.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine is running several clinical trials to test counseling strategies to help women with a family or personal history of breast and/or ovarian cancer make decisions that are right for them and their family.

Through these studies, women receive free consultation with a genetic counselor with expertise in cancer risk assessment. Study participants will receive:

* Cancer risk assessment based on medical and family histories* Information and counseling about the genetics of hereditary cancer* Personalized cancer screening and prevention recommendations* The option to pursue genetic testing

Volunteers are currently being sought for studies involving women who have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer as well as family members of women who have had these diseases. Because there are unique concerns for African-American women, such as discrimination and medical mistrust, which may not be addressed in "standard" genetic counseling sessions, there are also studies geared specifically for them.

You may be eligible if you are a survivor of ovarian cancer or early-onset breast cancer and/or if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. For more information, please call the Mount Sinai School of Medicine at (212) 659-8213 or e-mail us at [email protected].