Previving: How Unaffected Women with a BRCA1/2 Mutation Navigate Previvor Identity

Hannah Getachew-Smith; Amy A. Ross; Courtney Elizabeth Lynam Scherr; Marleah Dean; Meredith L. Clements

doi:10.1080/10410236.2019.1625002

Previving: How Unaffected Women with a BRCA1/2 Mutation Navigate Previvor Identity

Hannah Getachew-Smith^*, Amy A. Ross, Courtney Elizabeth Lynam Scherr, Marleah Dean, Meredith L. Clements

^*Corresponding author for this work

Communication Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Receiving a positive result for a BRCA1/2 (BRCA) mutation–indicating a high lifetime risk to develop hereditary breast and ovarian cancer–can significantly alter a woman’s identity. BRCA-positive women who have not been diagnosed with cancer may be labeled “previvors,” which distinguishes those at-risk for developing cancer, but have not had cancer. Using semi-structured interviews (N = 25), this study explored how unaffected BRCA-positive women navigate the previvor identity. Women in this sample differed on their definitions of previvor, views of acceptance, rejection, or ambivalence toward the label, and identification as a previvor. Understanding how women interpret and embrace the previvor identity may help inform communication for those with BRCA genetic mutations, but whom have not been diagnosed with cancer.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1256-1265
Number of pages	10
Journal	Health communication
Volume	35
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2019.1625002
State	Published - Aug 23 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Communication

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/10410236.2019.1625002

Cite this

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abstract = "Receiving a positive result for a BRCA1/2 (BRCA) mutation–indicating a high lifetime risk to develop hereditary breast and ovarian cancer–can significantly alter a woman{\textquoteright}s identity. BRCA-positive women who have not been diagnosed with cancer may be labeled “previvors,” which distinguishes those at-risk for developing cancer, but have not had cancer. Using semi-structured interviews (N = 25), this study explored how unaffected BRCA-positive women navigate the previvor identity. Women in this sample differed on their definitions of previvor, views of acceptance, rejection, or ambivalence toward the label, and identification as a previvor. Understanding how women interpret and embrace the previvor identity may help inform communication for those with BRCA genetic mutations, but whom have not been diagnosed with cancer.",

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AU - Dean, Marleah

AU - Clements, Meredith L.

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Previving: How Unaffected Women with a BRCA1/2 Mutation Navigate Previvor Identity

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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