Importance of pre-counseling for hereditary breast cancer

Abstract

Since 2012, breast surgeons at our facility have performed “pre-counseling” to give an overview of HBOC to patients suspected HBOC. If they request further detailed information about genetic testing for BRCA genes, we arrange genetic counseling in genetic medicine. The first half was from 2012 to 2015, and the second half was from 2016 to 2018. Eligible criteria in the first half were following: Among relatives including proband 3 or more women with breast cancer, ovarian cancers patients and patients with bilateral breast cancer or young breast cancer < 40 years. In the second half, the eligible criteria were expanded to include bilateral breast cancer and young breast cancer < 40 years regardless of family history. In the second half, the content of overview of HBOC was revised. Whether the price of genetic testing was expensive or not, depend on proband’s way of thinking. Providing appropriate medical management is strongly recommended for patients with positive results in genetic testing. Pre-counseling were 31 cases in the first half and 14 cases in the second half. The rate of genetic testing for BRCA genes were 6% (2 of 31 patients received precounseling) and 36% (5 of 14). Revised explanation in the second half may have acted on the rate of genetic testing effectively.