The following training and resources are intended to help non-genetic healthcare professionals integrate genetic testing into the routine care of their breast cancer patients.
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Suggested training for healthcare professionals and FAQ
Read the FAQ document in full.
The Genetic Medicine service welcomes contact from any healthcare professional who would like additional training or further discussion about their competency. Please contact genetic.medicine@belfasttrust.hscni.net to arrange this.
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Requesting genetic testing for your patients
- How to request genetic testing & a worked example.
- Testing flow chart protocol
- Recent user bulletins regarding genetic testing.
Note that individuals who are found to have a pathogenic or likely pathogenic gene change, or a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) must be referred to the Genetics service via EPIC to discuss this result by the clinician who requested the testing.
We do not receive mainstream test results directly, and therefore do not automatically arrange this follow up without a separate referral.
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Patient information leaflets & suggested template letters
Breast and ovarian cancer predictive testing
This information leaflet is aimed at individuals who are considering genetic testing for a known genetic variant in the family in BRCA1, BRCA2 and related genes.
Breast and ovarian cancer diagnostic testing
This information leaflet is aimed at individuals who have had a diagnosis of cancer, and are considering genetic testing of BRCA1, BRCA2 and related genes.
Patients with a pathogenic variant, or a VUS, must be referred to Clinical Genetics.
Information leaflets and template results letters for patients who receive a positive diagnosis of a variant in the following genes. Please ensure template letters are amended appropriately for each patient to include the correct details:
Other patient information leaflets and letters:
Variants of uncertain significance (VUS)
If you would prefer to send the template results letter in EPIC SmartPhrase friendly form with patient details populated, see document.
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Useful resources for healthcare professionals
- UK Cancer Genetics Group (CGG) gene-specific leaflets and management guidelines
- CanRisk website, including ‘how to’ videos
- Manchester Scoring System information sheet
- National genomic test directory: On this webpage the ‘Rare and inherited disease eligibility criteria’ PDF document can be accessed. To find the current R208 panel testing indications, the correct page will be listed under ‘Part XI. Inherited cancer’ in the contents.
- PROTECTOR study
- Information for patients
- Information for healthcare professionals
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Requesting advice from the Clinical Genetics team
If you have any queries, please contact genetic.medicine@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Any urgent queries should be directed to the on-call genetic counsellor at 028 9504 8022 (available 9-5 Monday-Friday)
