title: Hereditary cancer syndromes: nursing's role in identification and education.
abstract: Cancer often clusters in a particular family. Such clusterings may be due to chance but also may result from common environmental factors, from heredity, or from an interaction of the two. This article focuses on those families with hereditary cancer; specifically, cancers of the breast, skin, and colon. Key indicators for each site have been identified to aid in hereditary cancer diagnosis. Surveillance and management strategies differ with each hereditary cancer necessitating varying approaches. The educational and support needs of families provide clear opportunities for the oncology nurse.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fitzsimmons
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lappe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coody
mesh_terms: D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000235:genetics; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000451:nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*