This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides a framework for assessing and counseling clients about their chance of having an inherited susceptibility to cancer. This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Cancer Genetics Editorial Board ¹.

Information about the following is included in this summary:

• Components of the risk assessment process.
• Strategies for communicating cancer risk.
• Aspects of genetic testing including considerations about whether genetic testing should be offered, which genetic test should be used, informed consent for genetic testing, and the psychological impact of genetic information or test results on the individual and family.
• Ethical, legal, and social implications of cancer risk assessment and counseling.

This summary does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions. Information in this summary should not be used as a basis for reimbursement determinations.

Glossary Terms

A process of information exchange between a clinician and an individual or their legal proxy designed to facilitate autonomous, informed decision making. The informed consent process for genetic testing should include an explanation of the medical and psychosocial risks, benefits, limitations, and potential implications of genetic analysis, a discussion of privacy, confidentiality, the documentation and handling of genetic test results, as well as options for managing the hereditary disease risk.

The quantitative or qualitative assessment of an individual’s risk of carrying a certain gene mutation, or developing a particular disorder, or of having a child with a certain disorder; sometimes done by using mathematical or statistical models incorporating such factors as personal health history, family medical history and ethnic background.