OBJECTIVE To examine the role of the practitioner, informed consent, and genetic counseling in genetic testing decisions and to assess their relative influence on women's decision to have clinical BRCA1/2 testing. METHODS Qualitative study using in-depth open-ended interviews with 68 women who had considered clinical BRCA1/2 testing. RESULTS Slightly less than half of the women who had cons...

The approach to a patient with a possible neurogenetic disorder is a complex process that challenges the physician's knowledge, diagnostic acumen and counseling abilities. This article focuses on six aspects of the process: 1. Clues suggesting the presence of a genetic disease, 2. The importance of family history, 3. The interpretation of sporadic cases, 4. Genetic counseling, 5. Genetic testin...

OBJECTIVE To describe the population of women in southwestern Ontario who were diagnosed with potentially preventable BRCA mutation-related breast cancer. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING The Cancer Genetics Clinic of the London Regional Cancer Program in London, Ont. PARTICIPANTS Patients younger than 52 years of age who were referred to the London Regional Cancer Program Cance...