7. DISCLAIMER

These Guidelines are designed primarily as an educational resource for health care providers to help them provide quality care for patients with a personal and/or family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Adherence to these Guidelines is completely voluntary and does not necessarily assure a successful outcome. The Guidelines should not be considered inclusive of all proven treatments, procedures, and tests that are reasonably directed to obtain the same results. In determining the propriety of any specific treatment, procedure, or test, each physician should apply his or her own professional judgment to the specific circumstances presented by the individual patient.

Physicians are encouraged to document the reasons for the choice of a particular treatment, procedure, or test, whether or not it conforms to these Guidelines. They also are advised to consider other medical and scientific information that becomes available after the adoption of these Guidelines. Contact a cancer genetics specialist or the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4CANCER for updated information.

These Guidelines were produced at a series of meetings during 1997 and 1998; final edits were made in June, 1998.