Cancer Risk Information Services: Promise and Pitfalls

Abstract: As new information about cancer risk and etiology becomes available, physicians are requesting genetic testing for their patients and are expecting that they will receive appropriate information about risk, testing, and test results. Patients' reactions to risk suggest that the clinically effective presentation of risk information is a complex process, requiring multiple visits with skilled health professionals and includes helping patients to integrate sophisticated and often surprising information. Unless sufficient time and expertise are devoted to exploring patients' beliefs and concerns, as well as ascertaining and providing information about cancer risk that is relevant to them, patients may not learn enough to make informed health care decisions, even with state-of-the-art genetic testing and access to the latest risk information.?