Editor—The recent developments in human genetics have led to the availability of predictive DNA tests for the hereditary subgroups of some cancers. During the past five years, genetic testing for mutations in theBRCA1 1 andBRCA2 genes,2 predisposing to hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC), has entered clinical practice. Several genetic centres/hospitals offer predictive testing for HBOC to women with a family history of the disease. Women who carry a HBOC mutation might decide on regular breast screening to increase the chances of early detection of the disease. Alternatively, they might opt for prophylactic surgery to reduce their breast/ovarian cancer risk as much as possible. In addition to the uncertainties involved in these management options, the ambiguity because of the incomplete and variable penetrance of the BRCA1/BRCA2mutations has to be dealt with as well3-5; recent estimations of the cumulative breast cancer risk for femaleBRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers vary between 50% and 85%. Alternatively, the absence of aBRCA1/BRCA2 mutation in affected family members does not eliminate the risk of developing breast cancer. It merely reduces the risk to the risk level in the general population, which is about 10% in the industrialised world.6 7Despite these uncertainties, the high frequency of breast cancer in the population may trigger questions about and interest in the predictive test for breast cancer. Also, media attention may play an important role by creating high hopes,8 as well as an increased awareness or misconceptions of the personal and population risk for breast cancer.9 10 Commercial companies may try to encourage testing for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations by selling tests directly to physicians and/or the public.11 On the other hand, public concern, pessimism, or fear about the new genetic technology12 may discourage interest in applications like predictive genetic testing …