Cancer genetic counseling: trends in patient referrals and genetic testing in a community-based program

Eric S. Fowler, MS, CGC,¹ Ellen R. Neese, MS,¹ and Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD^1,2

¹Baptist Centers for Cancer Care and ²The West Clinic, Memphis, TN

Genetic counseling and genetic testing for inherited cancer susceptibility have been increasingly incorporated into oncology in the past 10 years. Advances in research and focused media coverage have raised awareness of the availability of cancer genetic testing and its implications for medical management. The passage of Federal and some state laws prohibiting genetic discrimination, though incomplete, has decreased concerns about the detrimental use of genetic information. This report reviews data on trends in patient referrals, uptake, results of genetic testing and the expansion of services in a community-based cancer genetic counseling program.

Commun Oncol 2005;2:253–260 print e-mail full text 312 kb