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Cancer Genetic Counseling

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The Molecular Basis of Human Cancer

Abstract

Our fundamental understanding of carcinogenesis has expanded dramatically over the past five years. Of foremost importance has been the discovery of genes that, when mutated in the germline, confer high risks of specific malignancies. The translation of these laboratory findings into clinical practice has led to the creation of a new medical subspecialty termed cancer genetic counseling. Cancer genetic counseling is defined as a communication process concerning an individual’s risk of developing specific inherited forms of cancer. This risk may be higher than or similar to the general population risks of cancer. Cancer genetic counseling can, but does not always, lead to genetic testing. The genetic counseling process involves: 1) obtaining detailed family, medical, and lifestyle histories; 2) documentation of cancer-related diagnoses; 3) pedigree analysis; 4) risk assessment and counseling; 5) general discussion of options for early detection and prevention; and 6) provision of genetic testing when appropriate. This chapter provides an overview of cancer genetic counseling, including a general description of the providers and patients involved, the cancer genetic-counseling process in a high-risk clinical setting and a predisposition-testing program, the provision of genetic counseling for selected hereditary-cancer syndromes, and case examples to highlight some of the complexities inherent to this process.

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Authors
  1. Katherine Schneider MPH
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  2. Kristen Shannon MS
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  3. Anu Chittenden MS
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  4. Elaine Hiller MS, MD
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  5. Stephanie Kieffer MS
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    William B. Coleman

  2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA

    Gregory J. Tsongalis

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Schneider, K., Shannon, K., Chittenden, A., Hiller, E., Kieffer, S. (2002). Cancer Genetic Counseling. In: Coleman, W.B., Tsongalis, G.J. (eds) The Molecular Basis of Human Cancer. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-125-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-125-1_21

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-107-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-125-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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