Everyone has the right to information about hereditary cancer risks – Falköpings Tidning

there are many reasons To ensure that relatives are not informed of a possible genetic risk of cancer in the family. Today, the responsibility for informing relatives rests with the patient himself. Some people with cancer may feel ashamed or upset to be told that their cancer is hereditary, and they do not want to cause anxiety and stress for their loved ones. Others simply don’t know how to talk about this sensitive topic with their family, or where they can get help and support.

Existing studies clearly show that both the public and patients want easy-to-understand, personalized information about cancer risk, and that they want healthcare to take greater responsibility for disseminating this information.

We are convinced that national guidelines for how information about hereditary cancer is shared can save lives. Health care must take greater responsibility for getting information to those involved. The responsibility should not lie with the individual patient.

If you have a family history If you have cancer, such as certain types of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or bowel cancer, or if you have been diagnosed with similar types of cancer, it is important that you communicate with your healthcare provider to discuss preventive measures that may be appropriate for you. This may include genetic investigation, frequent screening and various forms of screening.

Until we have national guidelines for cancer information for hereditary cancer relatives, each region needs to take its own comprehensive approach to this issue. It is an important effort to ensure that cancer patients and their relatives have the information and support they need to be able to make informed decisions about their health, which is something everyone is entitled to. In addition, it saves suffering, saves lives, and reduces costs to regions.

Barbro ShowlanderPresident of the Women’s Cancer Fight Network