Who should consider cancer genetic counseling?
Individuals are usually considered to be candidates for cancer genetic counseling if they have one or more of the following: • Multiple family members with the same, or related cancers • A personal history of cancer at a younger age than is typical (e.g. breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger; colon cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger) • A history of multiple cancer diagnoses • A personal or family history of an unusual cancer (e.g. male breast cancer, medullary thyroid cancer) • A family member with a known hereditary cancer syndrome • Precancerous conditions (e.g. colon polyps) or other medical conditions which can increase cancer risk • Extreme anxiety about cancer risks What does genetic counseling for cancer involve? When you meet with a genetic counselor, she will review: • Your medical history • Your familys medical history, especially your relatives with cancer, their types of cancer, and age of diagnosis • The likelihood of a hereditary cancer syndrome in your family •
