Andrea Patenaude, PhD

Department	Hematology/Oncology
Hospital Title	Associate in Medicine
Academic Title	Assistant Professor of Psychology
Phone	617-632-3314
Fax	617-713-4466
Email	Andrea Patenaude
Location	Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 44 Binney Street Boston MA 02115

Research Overview

Andrea Patenaude's research, which encompasses studies of both pediatric and adult cancer patients, involves psychosocial aspects of cancer genetics and survivorship.

Patenaude and colleagues recently completed a project assessing the psychological impact of prophylactic mastectomy (PM), a risk-reduction procedure recommended to women at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer. Interviews with 71 women who have undergone PM and 37 women considering the surgery revealed that all women considering surgery and about two-thirds of those who had undergone PM would advise pre-surgical psychological consultation. In addition, women who had undergone PM also would advise post-surgical psychological consultation to deal with issues of body image, self-esteem, and marital interaction.

Other recent projects include:

• A study comparing more and less intensive programs of genetic counseling for hereditary breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility.
• An evaluation of parent-child communication about breast/ovarian cancer genetic testing.
• A project assessing maternal reaction, family functioning, and expectations for change at the completion of a child's successful treatment for leukemia.
• A study of health behaviors and risk-taking in teen-age survivors of pediatric cancer.
• A study with Dr. Tony Meyer and Dr. Kathy Vannatta on the social functioning of pediatric brain tumor survivors.

About Andrea Patenaude

Dr. Patenaude received her PhD from Michigan State University.

She is the recipient of a Fiftieth Anniversary Award, Scholars in Medicine Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, 2001; the Rosalie G. Weiss Award, American Psychological Foundation, 2000; and a Presidential Citation, American Psychological Association, 1999.

Key Publications

• Patenaude AF, Guttmacher AE, Collins FS. Genetic testing and psychology: new roles, new responsibilities. American Psychology 2002; 57: 271-82.
   
• Patenaude AF. Genetic testing and family relationships: mutual impact and future implications. In: Sarason B, Duck S, editors. Handbook of interpersonal relationships, 2nd edition. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons; 2001. pp. 43-59.
   
• Patenaude AF, Last BF. Cancer and children: where are we coming from? Where are we going? Psychooncology 2001; 10: 281-3.