Further analysis identified certain predictors as to what information would be disclosed by the parent to the offspring. For instance, parents who were female, college educated and had older offspring were more likely to share information with their child about a BRCA mutation. Risk reduction factors for both parent and child were more likely discussed if both were female, the child was older and the parent had been diagnosed with cancer.

Linda Patrick-Miller, PhD, CINJ member and assistant professor of psychiatry at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is the study's lead author. "The importance of identifying 'teachable moments,' is that with intervention, we might be able to enable more parents taking advantage of that opportunity to help their children reduce their own cancer risk or help them do it in a way that will be more effective. This is especially important in families with hereditary cancer syndromes, which place them at increased risk of early onset cancers," she noted. "Identifying the profiles of the parent and offspring who already are using this 'teachable moment' is one of the first steps in understanding who should be targeted for an intervention and how that intervention should be designed."

The research team also includes investigators from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia and The University of Chicago.

The work represented by CINJ members is among the 5,000 abstracts being presented at the gathering, which is featuring more than 30,000 cancer specialists who will discuss the latest in cancer research, practice, policy and technology. The event is open to registered participants.

SOURCE The Cancer Institute of New Jersey