Risk factors, or red flags, for
hereditary cancer can help identify individuals and families who may be at
increased risk for hereditary cancer. See
risk factors.
American College of Medical Genetics
(ACMG) and National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) released Practice Guidelines (PDF) pertaining to
referral indications for hereditary cancer risk assessment (September 2014).
Capturing Family History
A detailed family history is an
essential component of risk assessment. A three-generation history includes
information about:
- Patient
- First-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and
children)
- Second-degree relatives (grandparents, aunts,
uncles, nieces, and nephews)
- Third-degree relatives (great-grandparents,
great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins)
The history provides medical
professionals with important information, such as:
- Vital status
- Age (current or at time of death)
- Cancer diagnoses
- Age at diagnosis
The number and ages of unaffected
relatives are also important in cancer risk assessments. Please note that some
people might not know all their family history for a variety of reasons, such
as adoption, limited contact, and geographic separation.
There are multiple resources available
to aid with the collection of detailed histories, including:
Updating Family Histories
Family histories change as years go by,
so medical providers should update their patients’ family histories on a
regular basis.
As they do, physicians should remember
that families with hereditary cancer often have an increased psychological burden.
The psychosocial implications of testing to clarify hereditary cancer risk
should be addressed before, during, and after the genetic testing process.
Several initiatives emphasize the
importance of integrating family history collection into medical practice:
The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Quality
Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) in 2013 added
documentation of complete family history and appropriate referrals for genetic
testing to their quality measures
National Accreditation Program for Breast
Centers (NAPBC) accreditation guidelines dictate that family history be
obtained on all patients as part of genetic evaluation (Standard 2.16, 2014
Edition)
The Commission on Cancer Program Standards
requires that a three- to four-generation pedigree be obtained for all patients
(Standard 2.3, Version
1.2.1, 2012)
The Medicare and Medicaid
EHR Incentive Programs provide financial incentives for the
“meaningful use” of certified EHR technology to improve patient care. As of
2015, CMS includes family history data as part of the meaningful use criteria.
