Genetic counseling,testing, and screening for breast and ovarian cancer: practical and social considerations

Breast and ovarian cancer are complex diseases that develop from multiple genetic alterations. In an era of genomics and advancing technologies, scientific knowledge regarding specific mechanisms of cancer development is evolving rapidly. In this context, identifying women with hereditary breast or ovarian cancer syndrome is becoming more complicated. Cancer genetic counselors must convey new scientific information, accurately assess cancer risk, and offer available options for genetic testing and medical interventions when there are still more questions than definitive answers.