A 10-year step forward in hereditary cancer in Spain

Excerpt

Genetic counselling in cancer is a multistep medical process that includes cancer risk assessment, evaluation of patient’s needs and concerns, education, genetic testing in selected cases, medical management, and psychosocial support. Potential benefits, limitations and risks of gene tests are important considerations in the decision-making process. The most detrimental factor in the development of genetic counselling in hereditary cancer in Spain in the late 90’s was the lack of certified formation and training in this field. To solve this gap, a tremendous effort has been done from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) by promoting training courses, publishing books, guidelines, and consensus documents, fostering multidisciplinary meetings to address controversial issues, and participating in research projects. In June 2000, the first Spanish working group in hereditary cancer was created. A key priority was making genetic counselling in cancer accessible to anyone in Spain, uniting for this purpose the expertise of different motivated health professionals, such as oncologists, geneticists, nurses, psychologists, and others. …