Genetic counselling unit- model and experience of University Hospital for Tumours in Croatia

Abstract

Background: Genetic counselling unit exists as a separate functional unit in University hospital for tumours from the year 2015. It is based on cooperation and teamwork of experts of different profiles: medical geneticist, surgeons, oncologists, molecular geneticists, specialized nurses and psychologists. The aim is to recognize and counsel patients with family and personal history indicative of the hereditary cancer syndrome. Most of the patients are those suspected to have hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, although there are also patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, Lynch syndrome(hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome), neurofibromatosis and few other very rare hereditary cancer syndromes (e.g.