Cancer Genetic Services in an Irish context: perspectives of healthcare professionals, patients and members of the public: Irish Cancer Society funded Study

Cancer is caused by certain changes to genes (genetic mutations) that control the way our cells work, most especially how cells grow and divide.

Some of these changes are inherited or familial genetic mutations, which are changes that are passed down through families from one generation to the next. These type of changes may increase a persons risk of developing cancer, and are known to play a major role in about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers.

A patient with a known history of certain cancers or family members of individuals diagnosed with certain cancers can be referred to “Cancer Genetic Services” for the assessment of their cancer family history, and potential suitability for cancer genetic testing.

Such genetic testing can: help an individual understand whether an inherited health condition may affect them, their children or other family members; show if the individual is at higher risk of getting certain health conditions, including some types of cancer, and guide doctors in deciding what treatments best suit the person diagnosed with certain types of cancer.

Cancer Genetic Services can support families with a history of these types of inherited mutations by providing specialist advice. Thus access to cancer genetic services is an important component of the health services for patients with cancer and their families.

This study seeks to hear about healthcare professionals, patients, family members and members of the public experiences of cancer genetic services in an Irish context.  Study findings can help to inform future research or policy developments in this area. This study is funded by the Irish Cancer Society. If you are a health care professional, patient or member of the public with experience of cancer genetic services in an Irish context, we are interested in hearing from you.

If you are interested in:

• Partaking in a telephone conversational interview please contact Professor Josephine Hegarty, University College Cork at J.Hegarty@ucc.ie or text 0874177062
• Completing an online survey- please click the relevant survey link below.