Genetic counseling for cancer patients and their families.

Cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery worry about the impact of treatment on their future health as well as on their reproductive ability. Genetic counseling--focusing on the probability of later cancers, possible infertility, and the chance of having children who are affected--is vital for cured cancer patients. Since each type of cancer and each type of treatment has unique sequelae, genetic counselors must make a thorough review of the patient's environmental and family history. They must also be alert for cancer family syndromes, including cancers of the breast, ovary, and colon.