Ethical implications of genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility

The identification of gene mutations involved in hereditary breast cancer is a major recent scientific discovery, enabling us to identify women at very high risk, and also providing the means to understand the biology of breast cancer and to explore novel preventive strategies. Yet, it carries medical, psychological, ethical and social implications. This paper is a review of all the ethical implications of genetic testing for breast cancer predisposition, as well as an attempt to discuss the more philosophical questions of women facing BRCA testing. To what extent does the individual benefit from genetic knowledge? Some women look with trepidation upon the potential of planning their life in view of a risk, while others believe that only through knowledge and awareness we can improve control of our life. The risk of breast cancer may be qualitatively so important to justify all the potential risks of finding out about it. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.