Barriers and Facilitators for Utilization of Genetic Counseling and Risk Assessment Services in Young Female Breast Cancer Survivors

Box 1

The definition of “cancer genetics services” provided to the YBCS in the survey instrument.

Cancer genetics services help patients to know if the cancer in their family might have

been inherited (hereditary cancer). The visit often includes the following.

 (i) Collection of medical and family history information.

 (ii) The history is used to find out a patient’s risk for cancer and the chance that the cancer

       in the family has an inherited cause (passed down in the family).

 (iii)  The patient is given facts about inherited cancers and other causes of cancer.

 (iv) The patient is told about genetic testing, pros and cons of testing, possible genetic test

       results, and what each test result means for their future and for their family members.

 (v) The patient is given information about ways they can screen for and reduce their risk of cancer.

 (vi)  Medical insurance coverage of genetic testing is talked about before a test is ordered.

 (vii) The patient is given a choice to have or not have genetic testing. If they choose testing,

       they are helped with getting the test and understanding the results.