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Unsolicited information letters to increase awareness of Lynch syndrome and familial colorectal cancer: reactions and attitudes

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Abstract

Dissemination of information on a genetically increased risk should according to guidelines primarily be family-mediated. Incomplete and incorrect information spread has, however, been documented and implies missed possibilities for prevention. In Denmark, the national HNPCC register has been granted an exception to send unsolicited letters with information on hereditary colorectal cancer and an invitation to genetic counseling to members of families with familial and hereditary colorectal cancer. To evaluate this approach, we investigated reactions and attitudes to unsolicited letters in 708 members of families with genetic predisposition and in 1600 individuals from the general population. Support for information letters was expressed by 78% of the family members and by 82% of the general population. Regarding route of information, 90% of family members preferred a letter to no information, 66% preferred information from the hospital rather than from family members and 40% preferred to obtain information from a close family member. Our results suggest that use of unsolicited information letters from the health care system may be a feasible and highly acceptable strategy to disseminate information to families at high risk of colorectal cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Danish HNPCC Register, Clinical Research Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Kettegård allé 32, 2650, Hvidovre, Denmark

    Helle Vendel Petersen, Birgitte Lidegaard Frederiksen, Lars Joachim Lindberg, Steen Ladelund & Mef Nilbert

  2. Department of Clinical Genetics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    Charlotte Kvist Lautrup

  3. The Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Mef Nilbert

Authors
  1. Helle Vendel Petersen
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  2. Birgitte Lidegaard Frederiksen
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  3. Charlotte Kvist Lautrup
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  4. Lars Joachim Lindberg
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  5. Steen Ladelund
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  6. Mef Nilbert
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Correspondence to Helle Vendel Petersen.

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Petersen, H.V., Frederiksen, B.L., Lautrup, C.K. et al. Unsolicited information letters to increase awareness of Lynch syndrome and familial colorectal cancer: reactions and attitudes. Familial Cancer 18, 43–51 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-018-0083-5

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