Precision Medicine Implement in Oncology: Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment and Counseling

演講摘要

Although only five to ten percent of all cancer cases are attributable to a highly penetrant cancer predisposition gene, identifying individuals at inherited risk for cancer has become an integral part of the practice of predictive and preventative medicine. Identifying those individuals with a significantly higher risk of developing specific cancers allow healthcare providers to intervene with appropriate counseling and education, increased cancer surveillance, and sometimes even cancer prevention. This document aims to present the identification of patients at high risk for hereditary cancer in Ubon Ratchathani Cancer Hospital, Thailand, focusing on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and the importance of referral to genetic counselors and other genetics professionals.

The process of cancer risk assessment and counseling followed NCCN guidelines version 2.2021 related to stages:

1. Pre-test counseling is done before ordering testing.

2. Consideration of the most appropriate tests to order.

3. Post-test counseling is done when results are disclosed.

The purpose of cancer genetic counseling is to educate individuals about the genetic and factors related to the individual's cancer diagnosis and/or risk for the disease to help them derive personal meaning from cancer genetic information, and to empower them to make educated, informed decisions about genetic testing, cancer screening, and cancer prevention.

In summary, counseling for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer uses a broad approach to place genetic risk in the context of other related risk factors, thereby customizing counseling to the experiences of the individual.