Results:

The researchers found that African American women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer were significantly less likely to have genetic counseling for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing than white women with similar family histories:

• Of the 217 women who had genetic counseling, 7.4% were African American and 85% were white.
• Of the 191 women who did not have genetic counseling, 29% were African American and 66% were white.

The researchers also found that women who had genetic counseling were more likely to:

• have an increased probability of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 abnormality,
• be Jewish,
• be married,
• be younger,
• have completed college or graduate school,
• have a household income of $70,000 or higher,
• have seen a gynecologist more than twice in the past year,
• have discussed BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing with their gynecologist or primary care doctor,
• be significantly more worried about developing breast or ovarian cancer,
• perceive their risk of breast or ovarian cancer as higher, and
• believe in the benefits of genetic testing.

The association between African American women and lack of counseling for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing didn't change when the researchers considered the other factors listed above. In other words, even if an African American woman was significantly worried about breast cancer, perceived her risk as high, had a college education, a $70,000 annual salary, and had discussed BRCA testing with her doctor—all things that are associated with getting counseling—she still was less likely than a comparable white woman to have counseling for genetic testing.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California, San Francisco conducted a study over several years of 8,900 women aged 65 and older who did not have any history of breast cancer. They measured the women's bone density at the beginning of the study, and then again at the end. Throughout the study they carefully monitored the women to detect any breast cancer.