Mitchell, G

Shanahan, M

Young, MA

English

PubMed

Shanahan M

Young MA

Mitchell G

Directory of Open Access Journals

Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice

Role of oncology/genetics nurse in management of individuals with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer

M Shanahan

MA Young

G Mitchell

Springer - Publisher Connector

MEETING ABSTRACT Open Access
Role of oncology/genetics nurse in management
of individuals with hereditary diffuse gastric
cancer
M Shanahan*, MA Young, G Mitchell
From Familial Aspects of Cancer 2011 Research and Practice: A combined meeting of kConFab, Australian
Breast Cancer Family Study, Australian Colorectal Cancer Family Study, Australian Ovarian Cancer Study,
Family Cancer Clinics of Australia and New Zealand and kConFab
Kingscliff, Australia. 23-26 August 2011
Background
Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an autoso-
mal dominant, rare familial cancer syndrome in which
affected individuals develop diffuse gastric cancer at a
young age. Mutations in the E-cadherin gene (CDH1)
have a 70% lifetime risk of becoming gastric cancer and
women with the gene have a 20-40% risk of developing
lobular breast cancer.
Case study
This paper will report on a series of young adults who
have undergone predictive genetic testing and been
identified as carrying the CDH1 mutation known to be
present in their family. The majority of these patients
have been diagnosed with gastric cancer at their first
screening gastroscopy.
Nursing intervention
Individuals who are known to carry the mutation are
provided with a personalised cancer risk management
plan with the aim of reducing morbidity overwhelmed
by the number of appointments they receive and by the
variability of information given to them, as care often
moves from and between several teams. A care pathway
has been developed by the oncology/genetics nurse to
ensure optimal communication between the genetics
and oncology treatment team, to ensure the best out-
come for the patients. The oncology/genetics nurse
coordinator with her specialist knowledge of genetics
plays a vital role in facilitating ongoing follow up of
these individuals, coordinating screening, educating
patients and their family on risk management strategies.
Conclusion
This paper will provide a clinical update on this rare
familial syndrome will describe the needs of patients
and families affected by this condition and illustrate the
contribution that expert nursing care makes to the out-
comes of people affected by HDGC.
Published: 12 April 2012
doi:10.1186/1897-4287-10-S2-A70
Cite this article as: Shanahan et al.: Role of oncology/genetics nurse in
management of individuals with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.
Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice 2012 10(Suppl 2):A70.
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Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Shanahan et al. Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice 2012, 10(Suppl 2):A70
http://www.hccpjournal.com/content/10/S2/A70
© 2012 Shanahan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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Role of oncology/genetics nurse in management of individuals with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer

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Directory of Open Access Journals

Springer - Publisher Connector

Springer - Publisher Connector