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. 2021 Sep 26;19(1):40.
doi: 10.1186/s13053-021-00198-7.

Improving our model of cascade testing for hereditary cancer risk by leveraging patient peer support: a concept report

Suzanne C O'Neill  1 , Jada G Hamilton  2 , Claire C Conley  3 , Beth N Peshkin  3 , Rosalba Sacca  2 , Glynnis A McDonnell  3 , Claudine Isaacs  3 , Mark E Robson  2 , Kenneth P Tercyak  3
Affiliations

Improving our model of cascade testing for hereditary cancer risk by leveraging patient peer support: a concept report

Suzanne C O'Neill et al. Hered Cancer Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Consensus and evidence suggest that cascade testing is critical to achieve the promise of cancer genetic testing. However, barriers to cascade testing include effective family communication of genetic risk information and family members' ability to cope with genetic risk. These barriers are further complicated by the developmental needs of unaffected family members during critical windows for family communication and adaptation. Peer support could address these barriers. We provide two illustrative examples of ongoing BRCA1/2-related clinical trials that apply a peer support model to improve family communication and functioning. Peer support can augment currently available genetic services to facilitate adjustment to and effective use of cancer genetic risk information. Importantly, this scalable approach can address the presence of cancer risk within families across multiple developmental stages. This applies a family-centered perspective that accommodates all potentially at-risk relatives. This peer support model can be further applied to emerging topics in clinical genetics to expand reach and impact.

Keywords: Cascade testing; Family communication; Intervention; Peer coaching.

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Conflict of interest statement

No disclosures.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Process of genetic counseling and testing. Adapted from Helzlsouer (2018). The red box highlights the process of cascade testing, dashed lines indicate breakdowns in cascade testing. The proposed role of peer support is indicated in blue. VUS = variant of uncertain significance
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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