In families affected by breast cancer, girls as young as age 10 could experience increased breast cancer–related distress.
Researchers studied some 870 U.S. girls, aged 6 to 13, and their mothers. Roughly half the girls were from families at increased breast cancer risk, defined as having a family history of breast cancer or a familial BRCA mutation. Mothers filled out psychosocial assessments for their daughters, and girls aged 10 to 13 years also completed their own assessments.
Girls from at-risk families did not have worse general psychosocial adjustment than their peers. However, those aged 10 to 13 reported significantly greater breast cancer–specific distress, with 12% having clinically significant distress. Higher breast cancer–specific distress in girls was associated with higher distress in their mothers.
Diane Judge of NEJM Journal Watch Women's Health…