The Arab population in the United States is among the most understudied ethnic populations in access to cancer genetics services. Similar to other underserved populations, Arab-Americans face several institutional, social, and cultural barriers that inhibit access to and uptake of cancer genetic counseling and germline genetic testing. Among the factors hindering comprehensive cancer risk evaluations is the limited communication about cancer diagnoses among relatives, reducing knowledge of family history information. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the communication patterns about cancer diagnoses and a potential hereditary cancer predisposition within families in an Arab community in Southeast Michigan. We conducted three focus groups and one individual interview with young, primarily acculturated Arab-Americans in the state of Michigan (n = 9, median age = 22 years). None of the study participants had a personal cancer history, and all had at least one relative with cancer. Our participants' responses were consistent with previous research that illustrated limited conversations about cancer and potential cancer risks within Arab families, particularly among extended relatives. Limited communication about cancer was attributed to geographic barriers between relatives, protection of younger relatives from harmful or unnecessary information, fatalistic views about cancer, and mistrust of Western medicine. These factors were also suggested to discourage potential discussions of any known hereditary cancer predisposition in their families. As a result, many participants emphasized the need for individualized and culturally tailored cancer genetics education and counseling for Arab-Americans.
Abdel-Salam et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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