Cancer genetic counseling begins with obtaining detailed information about cancer risk factors including your family history, environmental exposures, and lifestyle details. Our genetic counselors evaluate families with ALL types of cancers. Cancer genetic counselors carefully assess your history and you will have the opportunity to discuss the following:

• your personal cancer risks
• the latest advances in cancer genetics
• the chances of a hereditary cancer gene mutation in your family
• if genetic testing may be right for you or a family member
• the benefits and limitations of genetic testing
• what each type of result could mean for you and your family members
• if you and your family members qualify for specialized cancer screening
• steps you and your family members can take to lower your cancer risk

If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, cancer genetic counseling may be helpful to you and your family.

• Do you have questions about your cancer risk or cancer risk for your children/family members?
• Are you are considering cancer genetic testing?
• Did you previously have cancer genetic testing and would like a more detailed discussion about the meaning of your results?
• Do you have a personal and/or family history that suggests increased cancer risk? 
• Have you or a close relative been diagnosed with cancer at an early age (for example: breast, colon, uterine, or kidney cancer before age 50)?
• Have you or a close relative been diagnosed with a rare cancer type (for example: ovarian, pancreatic, male breast, or metastatic prostate cancer)?
• Do you have more than one blood relative with the same type of cancer (for example: mother and mother’s sister with breast cancer)?
• Have you or a close relative had more than one cancer, either different types of cancer or 2 cancers in the same body part (for example: sister with colon cancer and uterine cancer, or father with 2 kidney cancers)?
• Do you have a family member with an inherited gene mutation that causes increased cancer risk?
• Do you have anxiety about cancer, even without any knowledge of increased risk?

Cancer Genetics Resources

• American Cancer Society
• National Society of Genetic Counselors

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

• National Human Genome Research Institute

 Hereditary Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer Resources

• American Cancer Society
• Bright Pink
• FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

Hereditary Colon Cancer Resources

• Hereditary Colon Cancer Takes Guts
• Lynch Syndrome

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

• Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Association

Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA 2 genes. Some people are born with changes, called mutations, in these genes. 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish individuals have a BRCA1/2 gene mutation.

Mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes raise a person’s risk for developing cancer in their lifetime. Cancer risks can be higher for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and possibly others. BRCA mutation carriers can also be at higher risk to have cancer at younger ages. If your mother or father has a BRCA1/2 gene mutation, you have a 50% chance of having the same gene mutation.

You can learn more about hereditary cancer risk assessment among persons of Jewish ancestry by watching the presentation below, hosted by two of Middlesex Health's Licensed Genetic Counselors.