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Cancer Center Supportive Programs

Genetic Counseling

Our genetic counselor provides education and risk assessment for people who, based on personal and family history, are at high risk for developing cancer.

• Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer
• Syndrome breast cancer that occurs before age 50
• Bilateral breast cancer at any age
• Ovarian cancer at any age
• Male breast cancer at any age
• Hereditary Colon Cancer Syndrome
• Greater than nine polyps in a lifetime
• Any polyps that occur before age 40
• Colorectal cancer that occurs before age 50
• Endometrial cancer that occurs before age 50
• Hereditary Melanoma Syndrome
• Two melanomas in the same individual or family
• Pancreatic cancer and melanoma in the same individual or family
• Other hereditary cancer syndromes
• Three cases of cancer in one side of the family: bladder, brain, endometrial, kidney, lung, mouth, multiple myeloma, pancreatic, sarcoma, stomach, other skin cancer, testicular, thyroid.

A consultation takes about one hour and includes:

• A comprehensive family history with pedigree analysis
• Mutation risk modeling to estimate chance of hereditary germline mutations within the family
• Education surrounding: genetics, hereditary cancer syndromes, risk of cancer and/or germline mutation, ethical issues, potential but unproven discrimination issues, family issues, autonomy
• Insurance approval (covered by 97 percent of carriers)
• Testing, if appropriate, at a later date. Results are available about one month following testing.
• Copy of visit record provided to requested provider with consent.

The Saint Alphonsus Cancer Genetics Program works with the City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Clinical Cancer Genetics Department, in Duarte, California. The director of the City of Hope Clinical Cancer Genetics Department is Dr. Jeffrey Weitzel, who is board-certified in oncology and genetics.

This support includes, through telephone and computer conferencing, weekly case discussions as well as weekly current topics presentations. It also provides an opportunity for patients to participate in the City of Hope's research registry.

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