Familial breast cancer screening: ethical and social implications.

The identification of BRCA1 in 1993 after years of suspecting the presence of a gene implicated in familial breast and ovarian cancers accelerated the pace of research into risk factors associated with these two feared cancers of women. This supplement presents a cross-section of how this research is being integrated into the formulation of preventive measures, screening and medical care across geographical and socioeconomic boundaries in Europe and North America. Many questions are being raised which will hopefully prove useful to oncologists, laboratory scientists and government agencies that are involved in the development of strategies for dealing with these new biomedical frontiers. Most importantly, these issues will be responsive to the needs of women at familial high risk of cancer, as well as to those with uncertain risk who reach an age where routine screening may prove useful. The following areas are highlighted in the manuscripts included in this supplement: