Cancer Patient Flashcards
What is genetic Counselling?
- Process of helping people understand and adapt to medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease.
- Interprets and then assesses occurence of diseases
- Common reasons for referral… preconception, prenatal, pediatrics, adult, cancer.
What are the two types of genetic testing?
Diagnostic Testing: Someone has condition, already has diagnosis then order test to confirm diagnosis.
Predictive Testing: Strongly recommended that you involve genetic counselor. Asymptomatic person to predict future risk of disease… is it worth it to do test? Pro’s and cons…
What is site specific testing?
Site Specific Testing… only when we find the exact mutation in one family member who has cancer, we only need to test that specific pathogenic variant, and look for that mutation! Dont’ need to look elsewhere! Not everyone with that mutated gene will get cancer… your are just at a HIGHER RISK than general population! Need to test both daughters and sons! Can get male breast cancer!
Cancer Prevention measures?
Breast Cancer - Bilateral Total Mastectomies
Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy=removed ovaries
Chemoprevention - Tamoxifen, drug which reduces chance
Pro’s and Con’s of predictive testing?
Pros…. helps make medical decisions, if its a no.. its a no! use of resources, empowerment
Cons…. does not predict the future, increased worry, insurance discrimination
Psychosocial factors….
Ethical dilemmas… Right to know vs right not to know. Durty to warn vs confidentiality, testing minors, adoption issues, A lot of testing is based off of family history… what if they don’t know their family history?
