title: Genetic cancer risk assessment and counseling: recommendations of the national society of genetic counselors.
abstract: These cancer genetic counseling recommendations describe the medical, psychosocial, and ethical ramifications of identifying at-risk individuals through cancer risk assessment with or without genetic testing. They were developed by members of the Practice Issues Subcommittee of the National Society of Genetic Counselors Cancer Genetic Counseling Special Interest Group. The information contained in this document is derived from extensive review of the current literature on cancer genetic risk assessment and counseling as well as the personal expertise of genetic counselors specializing in cancer genetics. The recommendations are intended to provide information about the process of genetic counseling and risk assessment for hereditary cancer disorders rather than specific information about individual syndromes. Key components include the intake (medical and family histories), psychosocial assessment (assessment of risk perception), cancer risk assessment (determination and communication of risk), molecular testing for hereditary cancer syndromes (regulations, informed consent, and counseling process), and follow-up considerations. These recommendations should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of management, nor does use of such recommendations guarantee a particular outcome. These recommendations do not displace a health care provider's professional judgment based on the clinical circumstances of a client.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trepanier
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stopfer
authors.forename: Sherry Campbell
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Grumet
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manley
authors.forename: Julie O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Culver
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acton
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsen-Haidle
authors.forename: Lori Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pettersen
authors.forename: Terri Diamond
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ferlita
authors.forename: Josephine Wagner
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Costalas
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donlon
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skrzynia
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callif-Daley
authors.forename: Catherine Walsh
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Vockley
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D018570:Risk Assessment