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Background: Knowing family history is important for understanding cancer risk, yet communication within families is suboptimal. Providing strategies to enhance communication may be useful. Methods: Four hundred ninety women were recruited from urban, safety-net, hospital-based primary care women's health clinics. Participants were randomized to receive the KinFact intervention or the control handout on lowering risks for breast/colon cancer and screening recommendations. Cancer family history was reviewed with all participants. The 20-minute KinFact intervention, based in communication and behavior theory, included reviewing individualized breast/colon cancer risks and an interactive presentation about cancer and communication. Study outcomes included whether participants reported collecting family history, shared cancer risk information with relatives, and the frequency of communication with relatives. Data were collected at baseline, 1, 6, and 14 months. Results: Overall, intervention participants were significantly more likely to gather family cancer information at follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01, 3.71) and to share familial cancer information with relatives (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.48). Communication frequency (1=not at all; 4=a lot) was significantly increased at follow-up (1.67 vs. 1.54). Differences were not modified by age, race, education, or family history. However, effects were modified by pregnancy status and genetic literacy. Intervention effects for information gathering and frequency were observed for nonpregnant women but not for pregnant women. Additionally, intervention effects were observed for information gathering in women with high genetic literacy, but not in women with low genetic literacy. Conclusions: The KinFact intervention successfully promoted family communication about cancer risk. Educating women to enhance their communication skills surrounding family history may allow them to partner more effectively with their families and ultimately their providers in discussing risks and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies show that daughters of mothers with breast cancer may be at increased risk for developing the disease. However, daughters' adherence to health behavior and screening recommendations, compared to the general population, is unknown. Methods: Telephone interviews explored characteristics of adult daughters ( n=147), including primary and secondary preventive behaviors, body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, alcohol intake, smoking, and mammography. Daughters of mothers with breast cancer were recruited from the community and were compared with Virginia women ( n=2528) from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Differences were examined using logistic regression, adjusting for demographic covariates. Results: Daughters were younger ( p<0.001), more highly educated ( p<0.001), and more likely to never have been married ( p<0.001) than BRFSS participants, but groups were similar by race. In adjusted analyses, daughters were significantly more likely to have ever had a mammogram ( p<0.001) and to have had one recently ( p=0.001). Daughters also were significantly less likely to consume>3 fruit/vegetable servings daily ( p=0.032) compared to BRFSS results. There were no differences in BMI, smoking rates, alcohol consumption, or level of physical activity at work. Conclusions: Daughters with familial breast cancer risk were more likely to receive mammography screening than BRFSS participants, but they were no different in BMI, physical activity at work, exercise, or smoking than BRFSS participants and were less likely to consume more fruits and vegetables. More research is needed to explore group differences in screening practices compared to modifiable health behaviors in daughters of mothers with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 510 of all cancers and cardiovascular diseases have a significant genetic component. Of the 15 most frequent admission diagnoses for palliative care, at least one third have a significant genetic component which is testable, informative, and potentially life saving to the survivors. Once the patient has died, the chance to test or bank DNA for common inherited conditions such as breast cancer, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc., is gone. Objective: To determine the frequency of genetic conditions for commonly seen palliative care conditions, the availability of testing or DNA banking for future testing, and how genetics assessment is helpful. Design: A case illustration and review of the currently published evidence. Results: Genetic testing fits the accepted model of family-centered palliative care, is ethical, and may lead to life-saving interventions. Risk assessment tools and helpful websites are available. Conclusions: While common genetic conditions should be recognized before end-of-life care, the palliative care health professional may be the only person to recognize the condition before death of the patient and loss of available DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on genetic screening which identifies known markers of disease of the surviving family members of a dying patient. It mentions the recommendations of genetic banking or testing for genetic disorders including primary cancers, major birth defects, and sexual development disorders. It says that genetic nurses and medical geneticists can facilitate in genetic evaluations such as assistance in test selection and provide informed consent.