Which term describes the practice of assessing an individual’s risk for cancer based on genetic factors?

The correct term for assessing an individual’s risk for cancer based on genetic factors is risk stratification. This practice involves evaluating various risk factors, including genetic predispositions, family history, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures, to categorize individuals into different risk levels for developing cancer. By identifying these risk levels, healthcare providers can better tailor prevention strategies, surveillance protocols, and early detection efforts toward those who are at higher risk of developing cancer.

Cancer genomics refers to the study of the genetic mutations and alterations that occur in cancer, but it is broader and focuses more on the genetic aspects of cancer rather than individual risk assessments. Patient profiling typically encompasses a more comprehensive view of a patient's health and demographic data, which may include genetic information, but it is not exclusively tied to cancer risk. Cancer epidemiology studies the distribution, patterns, and determinants of cancer in populations, which is more focused on understanding cancer at the population level rather than at the individual genetic risk assessment level.