Navigating disclosure in new romantic partnerships as an adolescent or young adult with Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is an early-onset cancer syndrome caused by pathogenic germline TP53 variants. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with LFS may have challenges navigating new romantic partnerships given the significant effects of LFS on multiple life domains that also affect partners (e.g., reproductive decision-making). Disclosing LFS-related information to new partners may be especially difficult given the uncertainty, complexity, and chronicity of LFS. This qualitative-descriptive study aimed to explore AYAs' LFS disclosure decisions and experiences in new romantic partnerships. Participants were individuals with LFS aged 15-39 years at enrollment in a National Cancer Institute study. The analytic sample included 33 AYAs who completed at least one telephone interview. Greene's disclosure decision-making model guided thematic analysis. Participants were mostly female (67%) and married/in a long-term relationship (58%), with mean age 29 years and ≥ 1 primary cancer (61%). Key factors in LFS disclosure decision-making included perceived relevancy to partners (e.g., future children's genetic risk), partner traits (e.g., trustworthiness), and relationship quality (e.g., closeness). AYAs described LFS disclosures in new partnerships as a process. Disclosing LFS diagnosis often occurred early to fulfill a sense of moral obligation and emotionally self-protect from future rejection, while subsequent LFS disclosures depended on relationship quality and the topic's emotional valence or complexity. Partners often earned AYAs' trust by demonstrating a willingness to learn about and try to understand LFS. Clinicians and LFS communities could support AYAs by providing opportunities to discuss, normalize, and ameliorate challenges with LFS disclosures in new romantic partnerships (e.g., peer support groups, psychotherapy).