On a Mission: A Nurse’s Quest to Identify Hereditary Cancer Risk in All Patients

Enhancing Hereditary Cancer Screening at NMC

Every day, every patient. That’s how often Chelsea Mulheron finds herself asking women in her clinic about their family history of cancer. It’s not by accident that these questions come up so often. Chelsea has spent the better part of a decade developing and implementing a program that ensures everyone who walks through the doors of her department at the Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) in St. Albans, Vermont can be screened for hereditary cancer risk if needed.

As a breast cancer health clinical care nurse navigator, Chelsea not only serves as a registered nurse at NMC, but also as a patient advocate, guiding individuals through the complexities of the healthcare system.

“I am empowering patients to help them improve their health,” says Mulheron.

Understanding Hereditary Cancer Risk

That’s why she started a screening program at NMC. To educate and inform patients about what their family history might tell them about their risk of cancer.

“I tell my patients that I think it’s better to know, even if they are afraid,” said Mulheron. “The results certainly indicate that it’s worth it. While some patients may initially say “no” when offered the screening program, we have planted a seed for them when they come back a year later.”

She doesn’t hear “no” too often.

The screening program has had enormous success. Of the more than 5,000 patients she’s met with, nearly 1,200 have qualified for hereditary cancer testing, 128 had results that warranted further action from their provider, 45 were high risk for developing cancer despite testing negative for a genetic mutation, and 8 were positive for a genetic mutation.

One of the eight patients who tested positive for a gene mutation happened to be someone very close to Chelsea and the rest of the staff at NMC.

Amanda Wilson is the head of NMC’s Care Management team, and a member of the clinic’s Cancer Committee. Because of her job, Amanda has always been hypervigilant about cancer prevention. With a family history of breast cancer, Amanda met medical guidelines to receive the MyRisk^® Hereditary Cancer Test from Myriad Genetics.

Discovering the BRCA2 Genetic Mutation

The MyRisk test evaluates 48 different genes associated with 11 types of hereditary cancer. When Amanda received her MyRisk results, she found out that she had the BRCA2 genetic mutation, most commonly associated with breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

After consulting with her provider, Amanda decided to have a bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy, as well as a bilateral mastectomy. Chelsea worked with Amanda to find the right surgeon and continued being there for Amanda throughout the entire journey. Without proper screening, Amanda’s outcome could have been different. That’s why Chelsea is so passionate about her work.

“I speak to clinicians—primary care providers and surgeons– at every opportunity and give them my elevator pitch,” she shared. “Helping patients identify whether they are at high risk is care. More information means more choices.”

Amanda is back to work and recently advised readers of the St. Alban’s Northwest Messenger in a recent article. “Don’t be scared to find out. The reality of having cancer and chemo would probably be more invasive and all encompassing.” Read more here.

Integrating MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test into Your Practice

For more information about integrating the MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test into your practice, click here.