Kingsport Hematology-Oncology is proud to offer Genetic Counseling to our patients. Cancer can be caused by any number of factors, including genetics. The American Society of Clinical Oncology indicates that approximately 5%-10% of all cancers are the result of inherited genetic mutations. Patients in families where multiple members have cancer may want to investigate their risks for developing cancer.
A Genetic Counselor is a specialized health professional with training in medical genetics and counseling skills. Genetic Counselors assess the likelihood of hereditary cancer in a patient's family and provide the patient and his or her family with information about genetic testing and screening options. A Genetic Counselor can be a very valuable resource to a patient and his or her family.
Patients who will meet with a Genetic Counselor are asked to get as much information as possible about their family history and collect any available cancer-related medical records prior to their appointment.
During the appointment, the Counselor will go over information about hereditary cancer and take more detailed personal and family histories. Based on this information, a personalized risk assessment will be developed to identify a patient's risk for carrying a cancer-associated gene or developing specific cancers.
If a risk of developing cancer appears higher than average, he or she may want to consider genetic testing. Genetic testing is a very personal decision that requires a great deal of thought. A Genetic Counselor can provide information about the risks, benefits and limitations of testing.
It is important to remember that genetic testing determines whether the patient has specific genes that could increase his or her risk of developing cancer. Just because the genes are present doesn't mean the person will definitely develop cancer. Likewise, absence of the genes doesn't mean the person has no chance of developing some form of cancer.
If a hereditary gene for cancer is identified, one might need to pursue additional efforts to prevent cancer or detect it early, before it is more difficult to treat. This information is also helpful to additional family members for prevention, early detection, or reassurance that they have not inherited a gene in the family that predisposes to cancer.
Who Should Consider Genetic Counseling
Hereditary cancer risk assessment and genetic counseling should be considered is you or a family member has any of the following:
- A strong family history of cancer
- A diagnosis of breast, uterine, or colon cancer before age 50.
- Ovarian cancer at any age, especially if another family member has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Bilateral breast cancer.
- Multiple cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer or colon and uterine cancer.
- Multiple diagnoses of melanoma and/or pancreatic cancer in the family.
- A blood relative I know to carry a hereditary mutation such as BRCA1, BRAC2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, APC, p53, or p16.
- Male breast cancer.
- A family history of multiple polyps.
- Mulitple family members have been diagnosed with the same cancer at younger ages (ie. 3 or more blood relative have stomach cancer).
It is always best to FIRST test someone in the family who has been diagnosed with cancer at a younger age, if possible. Sometimes this is not an option, in which case testing can be done on an unaffected relative but may be less reassuring depending on the family history.
Deborah F. Pencarinha, MS, CGC | | |