Cancer Predisposition Cascade Genetic Screening in Switzerland

The Swiss Cancer Cascade Genetic Screening Consortium is a Swiss-based collaboration of stakeholders from basic research, the healthcare system, and social sciences. The goal of the consortium is to provide information and expert support to families with pathogenic variants connected to breast and ovarian cancer and to Lynch syndrome. Families concerned with these syndromes need support and expert coordination of care.

The CASCADE study in Switzerland takes place in German, French, Italian, and English.  The goals are to:

  • examine hereditary cancer risk connected to pathogenic variants
  • assess the quality of life, medical, and psychosocial needs of families concerned with these hereditary cancer syndromes, and how these needs change over time
  • facilitate coordination of cancer surveillance
  • provide expert information about use of cancer genetic services
  • promote interventions designed to help families cope with increased cancer risk and communicate about genetic testing results

PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING PART IN OUR STUDY.

Participant testimonial:
“I recently took part in the CASCADE study. Afterwards I had some questions. I would like to share my feedback with you:
Thanks to good information and preparation, I underwent genetic analysis and, after receiving the results, decided on the necessary steps for me – in my case, surgery. I would do it again at any time.
The decisive factor was that I was very well informed about the consequences of the genetic analysis. On this basis, I was able to think through my options with my if-then analysis and had already made my surgical decisions before I started the analysis. When the BRCA1 result came back, I already knew what to do next.
For me, this is central to my satisfaction with the situation. I want to share this experience with other women: If they are considering genetic testing, they should think carefully about how they are going to deal with the results before they start. This will certainly make it easier for them to decide whether or not to go ahead with the analysis and to cope with the consequences much better.
I wish you every success and exciting results in your important study and hope that many of the women affected will be able to take control of their lives in an informed way.”