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Grindedal EM, Jørgensen K, Olsson P, Gravdehaug B, Lurås H, Schlichting E, Vamre T, Wangensteen T, Heramb C, Mæhle L. Mainstreamed genetic testing of breast cancer patients in two hospitals in South Eastern Norway. Fam Cancer 2021; 19:133-142. [PMID: 32002722 PMCID: PMC7101297 DOI: 10.1007/s10689-020-00160-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Studies have shown that a significant number of eligible breast cancer patients are not offered genetic testing or referral to genetic counseling. To increase access to genetic testing in South Eastern Norway, testing has since 2014 been offered directly to breast cancer patients by surgeons and oncologists. This practice is termed “mainstreamed genetic testing”. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent patients in South Eastern Norway are offered testing. Three hundred and sixty one patients diagnosed in 2016 and 2017 at one regional and one university hospital in South Eastern Norway were included. Data on whether the patients fulfilled the criteria, whether they had been offered testing and if they were tested were collected. In total, 26.6% (96/361) fulfilled the criteria for testing. Seventy five percent (69/92) of these were offered testing, and 71.7% (66/92) were tested. At the university hospital, 90.2% (37/41) of eligible patients were offered testing, and at the regional hospital 62.7% (32/51). Fifty two percent (12/23) of eligible patient not offered testing were younger than 50 years at time of diagnosis. As many as 95.4% (125/131) of all patients who were offered testing, wanted to be tested. The majority of patients who fulfilled the criteria were offered testing, supporting the practice of mainstreamed genetic testing. There were nevertheless differences in rates of testing between the hospitals that affected all groups of patients, indicating that genetic testing may not be equally accessible to all patients. We suggest that efforts should be made to increase awareness and improve routines for genetic testing of breast cancer patients in Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kjersti Jørgensen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pernilla Olsson
- Department of Surgery, Section of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Innlandet Hospital, Hamar, Norway
| | - Berit Gravdehaug
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Hilde Lurås
- Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ellen Schlichting
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Oncology, Section of Breast- and Endocrine Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tone Vamre
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Cecilie Heramb
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lovise Mæhle
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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