Genetic Counseling and Testing
Genetics is an increasingly important part of health care. Each person’s
risk or developing cancer is affected by many factors including –
genetics, gender, age, family history, history of hormone exposure, and
more. In cancer, knowing your family history and genetic make-up can save lives.
Jupiter Medical Center’s Cancer Genetics and High Risk Program can
help determine your risk of developing certain types of cancer. Through
genetic screening and, if appropriate, genetic testing, your cancer risk
is evaluated.
How a Genetic Counselor Can Help You & Your Family
Scientists believe that about 10 percent of cancers are hereditary, or
passed down through the family. Talking to family members about the types
of cancer in the family is one of the first steps in the cancer risk assessment
process. If you are concerned about your risk of developing cancer, it
is important that you see a genetics specialist.
Genetics specialists are trained to educate and advise you and your family
on identifying and managing inherited cancer risk. If you are at an increased
risk we will work with you to develop strategies to reduce or manage your
risk. Some of these strategies include lifestyle changes, increased screening
and surveillance, medicines to reduce cancer risk and, in some cases,
preventive surgery.
Genetic testing is a personal decision with many factors to consider. Our
genetics specialist will address your questions and concerns, and help
you through the process of testing and understanding the results.
Red Flags for Hereditary Cancer
If you meet any of the following criteria, or if you have any family history
of the following, you should consider genetic counseling and testing.
If you have had a diagnosis of cancer, genetic testing may determine if
your cancer was due to an inherited gene mutation and help you make informed
decisions about how to manage future cancer risk.
- Do you or your family have any history of the following:
- Breast cancer before age 50
- Ovarian cancer at any age
- Two primary breast cancers at any age
- Male breast cancer
- Triple-negative breast cancer
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC)
syndrome* at any age
- Three or more HBOC syndrome* associated cancers at any age
- Colorectal cancer before age 50
- Endometrial/uterine cancer before age 50
- Two or more Lynch syndrome** cancers at any age
- A previously identified cancer related gene mutation in the family
*HBOC syndrome: cancer of the breast, ovarian, pancreatic, aggressive prostate
cancers, and melanoma
**Lynch syndrome: cancer of the colon, rectal, uterine/endometrial, ovarian,
stomach/gastric, kidney/ ureter, biliary tract, small bowel, pancreas,
brain, and sebaceous adenomas describe the benefits, risks and limitations
of genetic testing, and interpret your genetic test results for you. Although
individuals who have a positive test result are at an increased risk to
develop cancer, a positive test result does not necessarily mean they
will develop cancer.