Genetic Testing and Counseling

Our office is offering patients and their family members genetic testing and genetic counseling for Colorectal and Breast Cancer. The answer could help you be ready against hereditary cancer so you can manage it before it develops.

Certain family traits are passed from family member to family member, but the less obvious are genetic traits that could lead to hereditary cancer. Knowing your family medical history, both maternal (mother) and paternal (father) is the key first steps in genetic testing.

Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Svndrome
The majority of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is due to alterations or gene mutation in either the BRCAl or BRCA2 genes. Genetic testing can tell if you have the gene mutation.

You could have an inherited risk if:

• You or a family member were diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger
  
• You or a family member were diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any age
  
• You have a male family member with breast cancer at any age
  
• You have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
  
• There are two breast cancers in the same person or on the same side of the family at any age
  
• You are a family member were diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at any age
  
• There is pancreatic cancer and an HBOC-associated cancer in the same person or on the same side of the family
  
• You have a previously identified BRCAl or BRCA2 mutation in your family

Testing for Hereditarv Colorectal Cancer Syndromes
Many patients are unaware of their inherited risks. The cancer risk in hereditary cancer families is much higher than the general population. Whether or not you or a family member have had cancer yourself, a family history of early onset colorectal and/or endometrial cancer, or other Lynch Syndrome related cancers at any age is suspicious for inherited colorectal cancers.

• Colorectal cancer before age 50
  
• Endometrial cancer before age 50
  
• 2 or more Lynch syndrome cancers at any age
  
• A previously identified Lynch syndrome mutation in the family

Knowing if you have the mutation can guide medical decisions and actions that may reduce your
cancer risk and early detection.
If interested, please call our office to set up an appointment. (717) 848-2067