Breastfeeding and Breast Cancer Screening in People at High Risk: Knowledge and Perspectives

About the Study

Childbearing and nursing may impact approaches to breast cancer screening and prevention; however, little is known about whether women at increased risk of breast cancer receive information about this topic. 

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic and McGill University are partnering with FORCE on a survey of women who have inherited mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 or other genes (including PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, and others) related to increased breast cancer risk.  Although we invite all eligible women to participate in this study, we are particularly  interested in understanding the needs of women who tested positive for an inherited mutation prior to becoming pregnant and how they made decisions about the timing of pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast cancer screening and risk-reducing surgery.  Decisions related to these issues are complex, and for some topics, there has not been enough research for experts to make recommendations or provide evidence-based guidelines for women. For this reason, we want to learn about women's needs for information about how breastfeeding affects cancer risk and options related to breast cancer screening at reproductive ages.

What the Study Involves

This is a confidential, online survey that will take about 15 minutes to complete. Survey responses will be used to help identify gaps in knowledge, develop resources and design future research studies to improve safety and quality of life during reproductive years. Further, your responses will help establish the need for developing new methods for breast cancer screening that are safe, effective, and can be performed while women are pregnant or nursing. 

Click here to take the survey. 

Women 18 years of age or older with an ATM, BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDH1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, RAD51C, RAD51D, STK11, TP53 or other inherited mutation that puts them at high risk for breast cancer. 

Women under the age of 18 and do not have an ATM, BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDH1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, RAD51C, RAD51D, STK11, TP53 or other inherited mutation that puts them at high risk for breast cancer.