[Care of hereditary breast cancer]

In Taiwan, breast cancer ranks as the most prevalent form of cancer in the female population. Some breast cancer patients are genetically predisposed to this disease. To assess the risk of hereditary breast cancer for breast cancer patients, nurses should collect client breast cancer family histories back to three to four generations. Nurses should also comprehensively assess client psychosocial problems prior to and after genetic testing, and employ appropriate communications skills to provide clients adequate information regarding the disease. Nurses should ensure that clients are adequately informed prior to deciding whether or not to proceed with BRCA1/BRCA2 testing. When a client is identified as a gene mutation carrier, nurses should explain to her regarding the implementation of a monitoring program and of the importance of long-term follow-up. Nurses should explain to carriers the possible effects and impacts of preventive surgery and preventive chemotherapy so that they may make considered decisions regarding whether and how to implement preventive procedures. Furthermore, nurses should treat client families as a unit, and encourage all family members to participate together in genetic counseling. Nurses should also provide family members with an understanding of preventive strategies. Nurses should improve their knowledge and skills in genomic nursing. We hope this article can provide useful information for nurses to provide care for hereditary breast cancer patients and their families.