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Cancer Genetics
In 1995, Cancer Care Ontario established the Ontario Cancer Genetics Network to
promote research into genetic predisposition to cancer and to translate this
research into testing and counseling services for at-risk individuals.
Nursing and Cancer Genetics
Nurses play a vital role in helping to identify individuals and families that
may benefit from cancer genetic counselling and testing. As a nurse, you
already incorporate many of the skills required in genetics in your nursing
practice. Some examples include working with families, taking family histories,
providing education, and offering support. The following step-by-step guide
will help you to become involved in genetics in your oncology practice.
Step 1. Ask questions:
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The most important question a nurse working in oncology can ask her patient is:
“Do you have a family history of cancer?”
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Would you be willing to have someone contact you to determine whether or not
your family is at risk of having a hereditary cancer syndrome?
Step 2. Record the reported family history of cancer, i.e.
brother – colon cancer diagnosed at age 49, sister – endometrial cancer
diagnosed age 52.
Step 3. Know when to refer. For a detailed description of
referral criteria for hereditary breast/ovarian and colon cancer, go to:
www.oma.org
Step 4. Know who to refer to. There is a detailed listing of
Ontario centres in the link provided above. As part of a health care team, it
is important to notify other team members when a patient qualifies for genetic
counselling. There may be a referral protocol in your organization that states
who can refer patients and for what service(s). If a referral for genetic
counselling is not part of that protocol, it would be helpful to clarify with
your team what process for referral would work best in your organization.
Typically, we receive referrals from family physicians, oncologists, and nurse
practitioners. All correspondence goes to the primary care provider who
referred and become part of the patient’s file.
Lori Van Manenm RN, MSc
Cancer Genetic Counsellor
Familial Oncology Program
Kingston General Hospital
For more information about the Ontario Cancer Genetics Network, phone Cancer
Care Ontario at 416-971-9800.
For information about the Familial Cancer Program at the Regional Cancer Centre
of Southeastern Ontario at 25 King St. West , Kingston, ON K7P 2N7, call
(613)-544-2631 or fax at (613) 544-9708.
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