Cancer risk assessment and the genetic counseling process: using hereditary breast and ovarian cancer as an example.
While only a small proportion of cancers can be attributed to a hereditary susceptibility, identifying high-risk individuals plays an essential role in medical management and has a significant impact on the patient as well as their immediate and extended family members. This paper aims at increasing the medical professionals' knowledge of the components of a genetic counseling session, with particular attention toward identifying at-risk individuals and understanding the complexities of the testing process. In addition, tools are provided to assist in identifying these individuals in clinical practice and streamlining the referral process to a cancer genetics center.
Prucka
Sandra K
SK
Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala., USA.
McIlvried
Dawn E
DE
Korf
Bruce R
BR
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000235:genetics; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors