Question

IF A PATIENT TELLS THE NURSE SHE HAVE 3 AUNTS 2 ON YOUR FATHERS SIDE,42, 56, MOMS SIDE 62, THAT HAVE BREAST CANCER.AND AS THE NURSE DO SHE THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE GENETIC TESTING. WHAT SHOULD THE NURSE TELL HER

Answer 1

The nurse should let the patient know the following:

Genetic testing may give information about the patients risk of developing breast cancer. However, if more than one relative had breast cancer, chances are significantly increased for the patient too.

Genetic testing will provide the patient with additional health information and if necessary, the patient can implement lifestyle changes to stay healthy.

The decision to get genetic testing is entirely the patients decisions and they should act on it if they feel the dire need to know whether they have mutations in the BRCA genes