Cancer Care
Genetic Counseling

Hereditary Cancers
Although most cancers are thought of as sporadic events, approximately 10 percent are hereditary. These hereditary cancers are due to specific inherited factors or genes that cause an increase in susceptibility to develop certain cancers. Families can pass on a gene from generation to generation, which increases the risk of these cancers to develop at a young age. Hereditary cancers can include but are not limited to:

• Breast
• Ovarian
• Colorectal
• Thyroid
• Renal
• Prostate
• Skin (Melanoma)
• Pancreas

If these families at risk for inherited cancer susceptibility can be identified, genetic testing may be able to help determine personalized surveillance, management, and surgical options in the hopes of preventing the cancers from occurring. Health professionals, such as genetic counselors, can help individuals and families answer questions about their hereditary cancer risks.

What Are Genetic Counselors?
Genetic counselors are certified professionals, trained and educated at the master's degree level, who help individuals understand scientific, medical, and genetic information relating to a personal and/or family history of cancer. These professionals are trained to:

• Evaluate and recognize family histories for hereditary cancer syndromes
• Provide familial cancer risk assessment
• Help patients and families make sense of complex information about:
  • Genetics and cancer
  • Costs, benefits, and limitations of genetic testing
  • Issues of privacy, confidentiality, and genetic discrimination
• Coordination and interpretation of genetic testing
• Review of medical management and implications of genetic test results
• Follow-up support and coordination of referrals

In consultation with a genetic counselor, individuals and families are able to make informed medical decisions in a supportive environment that affirms their individual cultural, religious, and ethical beliefs.

In addition to providing education and support services to families with genetic concerns, genetic counselors are also involved in connecting patients and families with national and community-based informational resources, including research studies, support groups, and funding agencies.

Is Genetic Counseling For You?
Most often, families with inherited cancer susceptibility exhibit certain hallmarks that raise suspicion for a hereditary cancer syndrome. In some families, the pattern is clear and obvious. In others, however, incomplete information, small family size, or unknown diagnoses can make identification more challenging. The following are broad guidelines for identifying individuals and families at increased risk for hereditary cancer syndromes. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, genetic counseling may be useful for you.

• Have you or a close family member had a cancer, such as breast or colon cancer, at an early age (under 50 years old)?
• Do you have multiple family members with cancer in two or more generations?
• Has any one person in your family had more than one type of cancer?
• Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with bilateral (both sides) cancer of paired organs (such as breasts, ovaries, or kidneys)?
• Are you related to someone who is known to have inherited a gene that can cause susceptibility to cancer (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2)?

Contact Us
The Hereditary Cancer Assessment Clinic at St. Luke’s MSTI uses a team approach to provide patients with the most complete and up-to-date care. A specially trained genetic counselor is available to meet with you and answer questions about your hereditary cancer concerns. For more information, please call (208) 381-2734.