Genetics

Oncology practitioners now have several resources to consult for advice on genetic testing for their patients following the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) December 2013 update of its 2005 BRCA recommendations, plus new recommendations from the American Socieity of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) announced in February and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Study from one cancer center shows low knowledge and comfort levels.

Ellen T. Matloff, MS, CGC, director, Yale Cancer Genetic Counseling Program at the Yale School of Medicine/Yale Cancer Center, discusses options for BRCA1/2 carriers who are looking to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer.

Physicians may have a clearer understanding of the optimum age for prophylactic oophorectomy in patients with BRCA mutations who want to reduce their risk of ovarian, fallopian tube, and breast cancer

Ellen T. Matloff, MS, CGC, director, Yale Cancer Genetic Counseling Program at the Yale School of Medicine/Yale Cancer Center, discusses prophylactic treatment options outside of oophorectomy for BRCA1/2 carriers.

In the current digital age, where all-too-personal information flows from Facebook and Twitter, it seems that the health information available through the process of genetic testing would be an idea welcomed by most of the public.

Sharon Tollin, PhD, ARNP-BC, OCN®, discusses the unmet need for information regarding patients who have undergone prophylactic risk-reducing surgery (such as mastectomy and removal of tubes and ovaries).

The past 8 months have been particularly newsworthy in the field of cancer genetics, specifically with regards to BRCA testing.

Penny Daugherty, RN, MS, OCN, Southeastern Gynecologic Oncology, explains how nurses in her practice discuss genetics and genomics with patients.

Cancer centers are beginning to establish oncology nurse navigator programs with integrated processes for assessment, identification, referral, education, care, and support for patients whose gynecologic cancers may be genetically-based.

The decision about whether to get tested for a genetic mutation that may predispose a person to certain cancers is a difficult one for many patients to make. Even more difficult for mutation carriers is deciding whether to undergo a prophylactic surgical procedure.

Due to the high lifetime risk of ovarian cancer and the poor ovarian cancer surveillance options available, women who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are advised to remove their ovaries and fallopian tubes by age 40 or when childbearing is complete.

A pair of studies could change the way patients are evaluated for mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2, two cancer susceptibility genes closely associated with breast and ovarian cancers, as well as other tumor types.

Genetic testing for cancer survivors may play a critical role in helping avoid a second primary cancer or it may help prevent family members from developing cancer.

Cristi Radford, MS, CGC, from the Sarasota Memorial Hospital, discusses examining cancer gene panels using next generation sequencing for patients with ovarian cancer.

A thorough personal and family history is the key to determining which patients are candidates for genetic counseling and testing.

Colon cancer is equally as likely as breast and ovarian cancer to be hereditary (approximately 10% of cases, overall) and there are many different genes responsible for these cases.

Mary Gullatte, President, Oncology Nursing Society, Discusses Cancer Genetic Counseling.

Detecting hereditary cancer and providing genetic counseling can help prevent a new primary cancer and may also help to protect family members from developing cancer.

If you saw a patient who was under 50 and had breast, colon, or ovarian cancer, what course of action would you recommend?

Although genetic testing for cancer susceptibility is a simple process of blood sampling, the interpretation of the results may be rather complicated.