Table 2.

Frequencies of counselees’ ratings of cancer-specific needs and preferences as important or very important (n = 48)^a

During counseling, the counselor should explain…	(Very) important
	n	%
How risks for myself and my family are computed	46	96
Own risk of developing cancer
My risk of developing cancer (again)	48	100
What to do if I have an increased risk of cancer	46	98
What to do if I do not have an increased risk of cancer	36	77
Determination and meaning of being a carrier of a cancer gene
Whether the cancer in my family is hereditary	45	94
Why I am/am not considered for further examination	44	94
What it means to be a carrier of a certain gene	43	90
Possibilities of DNA-testing	43	90
What it means to be a carrier of a cancer gene	43	90
Limitations of DNA-testing	41	85
The procedure of DNA-testing	39	81
Emotional aspects for counselee and family
My family members’ risk of developing cancer (again)	47	100
What it means not to be a carrier of a cancer gene	40	83
Emotional consequences for my family as a result of genetic counseling	38	81
The procedure of studying the family history	35	74
Emotional consequences for myself as a result of genetic counseling	33	70
Heredity of cancer in general
How cancer is inherited in a family	41	85
How often cancer is hereditary	34	71
Background information (chromosomes, DNA, genes)	34	71
The prevalence of cancer in the Netherlands	17	35

^aSample sizes vary due to missing data