Genetics for Health Professionals in Cancer Care

The role of genetics is becoming increasingly important in all aspects of healthcare and particularly in the field of cancer care. Genetics for Health Professionals in Cancer Care: From Principles to Practice equips health professionals with the knowledge and skills required for all aspects of managing cancer family history. This includes taking an accurate cancer family history and drawing a family tree; understanding cancer biology, basic cancer genetics and the genes involved in hereditary breast, ovarian, prostate, colorectal, gastric and related gynaecological cancers and rare cancer predisposing syndromes; assessing cancer risk and communicating risk information; early detection and risk reducing measures available for those at increased risk and managing individuals with hereditary cancer. Drawing on experiences of health professionals, Genetics for Health Professionals in Cancer Care discusses the challenges raised and provides practical advice and insight into what happens when a patient is referred for genetic counselling and genetic testing, including the psychological, social and ethical issues faced by individuals and families with and at risk of hereditary cancer. The book also provides practical guidance on setting up a cancer family history clinic in primary and secondary care. Genetics for Health Professionals in Cancer Care is essential reading for healthcare professionals working with cancer patients and their families, and is an ideal reference text for non-specialists working in cancer genetics.SECTION 1: PUTTING CANCER GENETICS INTO CONTEXT ; 1. Putting cancer genetics into context ; SECTION 2: CANCER GENETICS: THE BASICS ; 2. Cancer genetics: the basics - Introduction ; 3. Taking a cancer family history and drawing a family tree ; 4. Basic cancer genetics ; 5. Cancer biology ; 6. Cancer genetics: the basics - Summary ; SECTION 3: GENETICS OF SPECIFIC CANCERS ; 7. Genetics of specific cancers - Introduction ; 8. Genetics of breast and ovarian cancer ; 9. Genetics of colorectal, gastric and related gynaecological cancers ; 10. Genetics of prostate cancer ; 11. Genetics of rare cancer syndromes ; 12. Genetics of specific cancers - Summary ; SECTION 4: CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT AND COMMUNICATING RISK ; 13. Cancer risk assessment and communicating risk - Introduction ; 14. Breast and ovarian cancer risk assessment ; 15. Colorectal and gastric and related cancers risk assessment ; 16. Cancer risk assessment and communicating risk - Summary ; SECTION 5: EARLY DETECTION OF HEREDITARY CANCER ; 17. Early detection of hereditary cancer - Introduction ; 18. Early detection of hereditary breast cancer ; 19. Early detection of hereditary colorectal and gastric cancer ; 20. Early detection of hereditary gynaecological cancers ; 21. Early detection of hereditary cancer - Summary ; SECTION 6: REDUCING THE RISK OF CANCER ; 22. Reducing the risk of cancer - Introduction ; 23. Reducing the risk of breast cancer ; 24. Reducing the risk of colorectal and gastric cancer ; 25. Reducing the risk of gynaecological cancers ; 26. Reducing the risk of cancer - Summary ; SECTION 7: MANAGING HEREDITARY CANCER ; 27. Managing hereditary cancer - Introduction ; 28. Managing hereditary breast cancer ; 29. Managing hereditary colorectal and gastric cancer ; 30. Managing hereditary gynaecological cancer ; 31. Managing hereditary cancer - Summary ; SECTION 8: GENETIC COUNSELLING AND SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF CANCER ; 32. Genetic counselling and supporting individuals with a family history of cancer - Introduction ; 33. Genetic counselling about cancer predisposition ; 34. Psychosocial issues and supporting individuals with a family history of cancer ; 35. Ethical and cultural issues ; 36. Genetic counselling and supporting individuals with a family history of cancer - Summary ; SECTION 9: MANAGING CANCER FAMILY HISTORY IN PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND PALLIATIVE CARE ; 37. Managing cancer family history in primary, secondary and palliative care - Introduction ; 38. Experiences of managing cancer family history in primary care ; 39. Experiences of managing cancer family history in secondary care ; 40. Experiences of managing cancer family history in palliative care ; 41. A practical guide to setting up a cancer family history clinic in primary and secondary care ; 42. Managing cancer family history in primary, Secondary and palliative care - Summary