Many people have someone in their family who has had cancer, but some families have a hereditary or genetic factor that can greatly increase their chances of developing the disease. Identifying these genetic factors and following appropriate screening, risk reduction, and prevention recommendations can significantly reduce the risk for breast, colorectal, endometrial [uterine], and ovarian cancers.
“Knowing what your risk is allows us to help you start to reduce that risk,” said Dana Farengo Clark, M.S., a board-certified genetic counselor at the Cooper Cancer Institute. Clark works closely with medical oncologists Generosa Grana, M.D., and Robert A. Somer, M.D., to direct Cooper’s Cancer Genetics Program.
Cancer Risk Assessment & Genetic Testing
The Cancer Genetics Program at the Cooper Cancer Institute provides risk assessment and counseling, as well as recommendations for screening, risk reduction measures, and prevention options to people at high risk for – or who have been diagnosed with – breast, colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancers.
“Our program specializes in making cancer genetics understandable for patients so that they can make informed decisions about testing and the medical management of their risks,” Clark said. “Our team works with each patient individually to develop a personalized plan of care, which includes screening and prevention, and then works with each patient’s primary care physician or oncologist to implement the plan. Our patients typically are happy to be given a chance to be proactive about their health,” Clark said.
Generosa Grana, M.D., FACP, and Dana Farengo Clark, M.S., of the Cancer Genetics Program discuss genetic testing and counseling.
The program provides information about how inherited and environmental factors might increase the risk for cancer in individuals and their families, as well as the process of genetic testing (blood tests), its risks, benefits, limitations and costs.
“Genetic testing is a personal choice and is not for everyone. Cancer risk assessment is the first step, and can be accomplished without genetic testing. These assessments can help people decide if testing might be helpful to them and/or to their family members,” Clark said.
Before their appointment, patients are asked to gather medical information about themselves and their family members. From this, a family tree is developed. Medical records also may be requested to clarify information.
Patients then meet with a board-certified genetic counselor (for an hour to an hour and a half) to review their personal medical history and their families’ history of cancer. Based on this information, a determination is made as to the likelihood of a hereditary risk for cancer, and how the risk can impact the patient and other family members. Patients also meet with an oncologist, who helps in developing a medical management plan based on the patient’s personal and/or family history of cancer.
Who can benefit from cancer genetic evaluation?
People who are concerned about their family or personal history of cancer may benefit from cancer risk assessment. Risk assessment can be especially helpful for:
- People who have been diagnosed with any cancer at an early age (younger than 50).
- People with two or more close relatives (siblings, parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles), on the same side of the family, with the same or related types of cancer (for instance, breast and ovarian, colon and uterine).
- People who have had more than one type of cancer.
- People with a rare cancer (for instance, male breast cancer, sarcoma, medullary thyroid cancer, or pheochromocytoma).
- Families that have a known cancer predisposition gene.