Who should care about Genetic Discrimination?

Everyone should care about the potential for genetic discrimination. Every person has dozens of DNA differences that could increase or decrease his or her chance of getting a disease such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer or Alzheimer's disease. It's important to remember that these DNA differences don't always mean someone will develop a disease, just that the risk to get the disease may be greater.

More and more tests are being developed to find DNA differences that affect our health. Called genetic tests, these tests will become a routine part of health care in the future. Health care providers will use information about each person's DNA to develop more individualized ways of detecting, treating and preventing disease. But unless this DNA information is protected, it could be used to discriminate against people.

Comments

ivy.razmus said…

http://jane-happiness.blogspot.com/
I found this on the internet and she is a younger woman who is in her 20s and has HNPCC type of cancer.
This makes me a wonder about my nieces and nephews and what their screening needs are.

September 12, 2008 at 5:04 PM

ivy.razmus said…

I also found some other links that have to do with HNPCC.
they are.http://www.myspace.com/dmsteach

http://hnpcc.healthdiaries.com/a-family-history-of-colon-cancer.html#comments

http://shortcolon.blogspot.com/

http://thecolonchronicles.blogspot.com/index.html

http://blog.accessdezine.com/?p=64

http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,27603,0.htm

September 15, 2008 at 11:32 AM

Cancer Survivors

Just read a story about one woman's cancer experience. I bet everyone has a story about what goes through your mind when you are told you have cancer. Her thought were about her stunned family members, one crying and the other in shock. I bet there are quite a few stories that could be qualitatively studied. Those experiences could help nurses better help patients during this time.

Prevalence and Spectrum of Germline Cancer Susceptibility Gene Mutations Among Patients With Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Key Points Question What is the frequency and spectrum of cancer susceptibility gene mutations among patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed at younger than 50 years? Findings In this cohort study of 450 patients with early-onset colorectal cancer, 72 (16%) had a pathogenic mutation. Panel testing identified mutations in patients that may have otherwise been missed; specifically, 24 of 72 patients (33.3%) who were mutation positive did not meet testing criteria for the gene(s) in which they had a mutation. Meaning Multigene panel testing should be considered for all patients with early-onset colorectal cancer. Read More: Prevalence and Spectrum of Gene Mutations and Colorectal Cancer

Get the Facts About Genetic Colon Cancer

Get the Facts: http://genefacts.org Lynch syndrome is a cancer predisposition syndrome caused by inherited mutations in genes responsible for correcting DNA replication errors. Individuals with Lynch syndrome have a greatly increased risk for colorectal, endometrial, and stomach cancers, and a moderately increased risk for other cancers. Key Points 1-3% of colon cancers attributable to Lynch syndrome Dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance (not all patients with mutations will manifest disease) Diagnosis based on clinical and family history, tumor pathology and/or genetic testing Screening and prophylactic surgeries effective in reducing some, but not all cancer risks Mutations in any of several genes can cause the syndrome

HNPCC Info

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