title: Certified Genetic Counselors: A Crucial Clinical Resource in the Management of Patients with Suspected Hereditary Cancer Syndromes.
abstract: The role of the cancer genetic counselor in the management of patients with cancer is discussed in this article. This includes explaining what a genetic counselor is trained to do and how they are credentialed and licensed. In addition, the article explains who to refer for cancer genetic counseling. Once referred, the article describes what actually happens in a pretest and posttest cancer genetic counseling session. Use of a cancer genetic registry and how it can help in practice is discussed. Finally, several mechanisms for identifying a cancer genetic counselor at one's institution or nearby are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, 4701 Ogletown Stanton Road, Suite 2231, Newark, DE 19713-2079, USA. Electronic address: ZAli-KhanCatts@Christianacare.org.
authors.forename: Zohra Ali-Khan
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Catts
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2001 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hampel
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Cancer genetic counseling; Cancer genetics; Genetic counselor; Genetic testing