Grant: Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Patient-Oriented Research

Hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome and Lynch syndrome, called cancer predisposition syndromes, are main causes of inherited cancer. Up to 20% of all cancers are inherited. Good scientific evidence confirms that if we can identify people at risk for these inherited cancers and support them in following screening and prevention guidelines, we can prevent cancers. However, most Canadian provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) do not have programs that identify and support these high risk patients. The current NL care model has no organized support for these patients struggling with appointments and screening tests. In this project, we aim to create a model of care that is focused on helping high risk patients navigate the health system to get the screening and support they need to help prevent cancers. We will build a hereditary cancer research registry and test a nurse navigator follow up model of care in a small sample of patients. Patient partners with lived experience will help guide all project activities. We will work directly with patients, healthcare providers and health system decision makers to make sure our program of follow up care is acceptable to patients and feasible in practice. The results of this project could help high risk patients better manage their inherited risk and ensure they get the right screening, at the right time, ultimately preventing many cancers.