Cancer Genetics Risk Assessment and Counseling (PDQ) - changes feb 2016

National Cancer Institute

Updated: February 10, 2016 - Changes to This Summary (02/10/2016)

 The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

Introduction

Added Robson et al. as reference 10.

Cancer Risk Assessment and Counseling

Added Robson et al. as reference 5.

Components of the Risk Assessment Process

Added Robson et al. as reference 2.

The Option of Genetic Testing

Added Robson et al. as reference 3.

Revised text to state that multi-gene testing has both advantages and disadvantages, and much of the information presented in the "Multi-gene (panel) testing" subsections of this summary is not based on empirical data but rather on commentaries.

Added Considerations when using multi-gene testing as a new subsection.

Added Genetic education and counseling for multi-gene testing as a new subsection.

Added Outcomes of multi-gene testing as a new subsection.

Added Research examining multi-gene testing as a new subsection.

Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications

Added Robson et al. as reference 20.

Added National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) as reference 37.

Added U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as references 38 and 39, respectively.

Added text to state that NHGRI's Genome Status and Legislation Database provides a searchable listing of state statutes and bills related to the following topics: direct-to-consumer genetic testing, employment and insurance nondiscrimination, health insurance coverage, privacy, research, and the use of residual newborn screening specimens. Also added text to state that Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 employment provisions generally do not apply to employers with fewer than 15 employees.

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Cancer Genetics Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® - NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database pages.

< Previous section
Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications

Next section >
About This PDQ Summary

• Updated: February 10, 2016

Most text on the National Cancer Institute website may be reproduced or reused freely. The National Cancer Institute should be credited as the source. Please note that blog posts that are written by individuals from outside the government may be owned by the writer, and graphics may be owned by their creator. In such cases, it is necessary to contact the writer, artist, or publisher to obtain permission for reuse.