Genetic risk assessment in women with breast cancer in the outpatient setting: Establishing the standard of practice for ambulatory care clinics

1039 Background: Recognizing the importance of genetic information on the practice of oncology, ASCO has established guidelines for incorporating genetic information into clinical practice. The objective of this study was to assess how reliably genetic information is collected and used in practice. We identified and studied a population at risk of having an underlying genetic predisposition to cancer in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Methods: Chart audits on 210 women diagnosed with breast cancer at the KCCC clinics seen between January and February of 2002 were conducted by oncology nurses. All audited patients were under the age of 65 and were not currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. A pedigree risk management tool was developed to examine the completeness of the family cancer history recorded, the frequency with which the patients were assessed for hereditary cancer risk, and the frequency with which they were considered for genetic counseling services. Results: Of the 210 charts reviewed, ...