Duty to Warn

 

More healthcare professionals need to be aware of the importance of communicating a genetic risk for cancer to all who may be at risk.

There are many hereditary cancers that are preventable or can be detected and successfully treated at early stages, but that comes only with communicating that information. It is hard for someone to be proactive if they are not aware of the threat.

Leaving communicating about any mutations and cancer risks just to family members often DOES NOT work out well. (Tragically, that's why I'm a widower.)

"Effective family communication about genetic information is complex and occurs at lower than optimal rates." *
(Read more about that quote and the study it came from at the link below.)

*https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9780470015902.a0024195

**Link to the Journal of Law and the Biosciences:
https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article/7/1/lsaa071/6029410?login=false

#dutytowarn #hereditarycancer #BRCA2 #genetictesting #HIPPA #cancerprevention #germlinemutations #geneticcounseling

Previvor Graphic

 

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Connecting the Family Cancer History Dots

If there's a family history of cancer someone has to care enough to become educated enough about any hereditary cancer risks and then have the courage to speak up and share that knowledge with the family. Sounds simple, but it’s not. In fact, talking about cancer, and specifically about a history of cancer in the family, can be so difficult for some people.

Talking openly about health history with your family is important. Documenting that information, especially if there is a family history of cancer, can be life-saving.

Download a free Family Health/Cancer History Pedigree so you can get the conversation started with your family.