Hereditary Cancer

Genetic counseling and testing can help you understand your personal risk to develop cancer and help you make informed healthcare decisions

Genetic testing for hereditary cancer evaluates your DNA for gene mutations that cause an increased risk to develop cancer. People who are born with these gene mutations have a higher risk of developing cancer in their lifetime, compared to the general population. The type of cancer and level of increased cancer risk depends on which gene is involved.

Both individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer and their unaffected family members can benefit from genetic testing for hereditary cancer. If you are found to have a gene mutation, your family members have up to a 50% chance of having the same gene mutation.

Potential benefits of hereditary cancer genetic counseling and testing

Personalize your cancer screening plan to detect cancer early

Identify potential treatment options and guide decision making, if diagnosed with cancer

Identify options to reduce cancer risk, such as preventive surgeries

Provide information for family members who may carry the same gene mutation

Who should consider hereditary cancer genetic counseling?

Anyone who has a personal or family history of cancer and/or has concerns about their cancer risk should consider having cancer genetic counseling. Genetic counseling can help you learn about your personal cancer risks and help you determine if genetic testing is right for you.

What personal or family cancer history is suggestive of hereditary cancer?

If you answer 'yes' to any of these questions below, you may benefit from cancer genetic counseling:

Have you or a family member been diagnosed with cancer at a young age (age 50 or younger)?
Have you or a family member been diagnosed with two or more cancers in their lifetime (same or different type)?
Have you or a family member been diagnosed with a cancer you were told was rare?
Have multiple people on the same side of the family been diagnosed with the same or related types of cancer?
Do you have a family member with a known cancer gene mutation?

If you have a personal or family history of any of the following types of cancer, click on the box below to learn more information on when you should consider genetic counseling and testing.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in females. The average female has a 13% (or 1 in 8) chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a female's risk for breast cancer up to 72%.

The American Society of Breast Surgeons recommends that all people diagnosed with breast cancer (current diagnosis or previous diagnosis) should consider having genetic testing.

If you have never had breast cancer and have a family history of any of the following, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger
Triple negative breast cancer
Multiple breast cancers diagnosed in the same person (not a recurrence of the same breast cancer)
Breast cancer diagnosed in a male
Breast cancer in a person with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
Breast cancer and ovarian cancer diagnosed in the same person or in two people on the same side of the family
Breast cancer and pancreatic cancer diagnosed in the same person or in two people on the same side of the family
Two people on the same side of the family with breast cancer, and at least one was diagnosed at age 50 or under
Three or more people with breast cancer or prostate cancer on the same side of the family

Ovarian cancer is a relatively rare cancer. The average female has a 1.1% (or 1 in 87) chance of developing ovarian cancer in her lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a female's risk for ovarian cancer up to 58%.

You should consider cancer genetic counseling if any of the following describe you:

You currently have or previously had ovarian cancer diagnosed at any age
One or more of your first- or second-degree relatives were diagnosed with ovarian cancer
- First-degree relatives include your mother, sister, or daughter
- Second-degree relatives include grandmothers, aunts, nieces, granddaughters, and half-sisters

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in males. The average male has a 13% (or 1 in 8) chance of developing prostate cancer in his lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a male's risk for prostate cancer up to 61%.

If the following describes you or a close family member, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Metastatic prostate cancer diagnosed at any age
- Metastatic prostate cancer means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
Prostate cancer in a person with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
Prostate cancer and early-onset breast cancer diagnosed in two people on the same side of the family
- Early-onset means they were diagnosed at age 50 or younger
Prostate cancer and ovarian cancer diagnosed in two people on the same side of the family
Prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer diagnosed in two people on the same side of the family
Three or more people with breast cancer or prostate cancer on the same side of the family

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancers in the United States. The average person has a 4% (or 1 in 24) chance of developing colorectal cancer in their lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for colorectal cancer up to 61%.

If you were diagnosed with colorectal cancer at any age (but especially under age 50), you should consider genetic counseling.

If the following describes your family history of colon cancer, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Colorectal cancer diagnosed under age 50
Multiple colorectal cancers diagnosed in the same person (not a recurrence of the same colorectal cancer)
Colorectal cancer and uterine cancer diagnosed in the same person
Two people on the same side of the family diagnosed with colorectal or uterine cancer, and at least one was diagnosed under age 50
Three or more people on the same side of the family diagnosed with colorectal or uterine cancer at any age

Pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare cancer. The average person has a ~2% (or 1 in 58) chance of developing pancreatic cancer in her lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for pancreatic cancer up to 15%.

You should consider cancer genetic counseling if any of the following describe you:

You currently have or previously had pancreatic cancer diagnosed at any age
One or more of your first-degree relatives were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
- First-degree relatives include your parents, siblings, and children
Two or more people with pancreatic cancer on the same side of the family

The average female has a 3% (or 1 in 33) chance of developing uterine cancer (also known as endometrial cancer) in her lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for uterine cancer up to 57%.

If you were diagnosed with uterine cancer at any age (but especially under age 50), you should consider genetic counseling.

If the following describes your family history of uterine cancer, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Uterine cancer diagnosed under age 50
Multiple uterine cancers diagnosed in the same person (not a recurrence of the same uterine cancer)
Uterine cancer and colorectal cancer diagnosed in the same person
Two people on the same side of the family diagnosed with colorectal or uterine cancer, and at least one was diagnosed under age 50
Three or more people on the same side of the family diagnosed with colorectal or uterine cancer at any age

The average person has a 0.9% (or 1 in 101) chance of developing stomach cancer (also known as gastric cancer) in their lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for stomach cancer up to 42%.

If the following describes you or a close family member, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Stomach cancer diagnosed under age 50
Diagnosed at any age with a specific type of stomach cancer called diffuse gastric cancer or signet ring cell gastric cancer
Multiple stomach cancers diagnosed in the same person (not a recurrence of the same stomach cancer)
Stomach cancer and colorectal or uterine cancer diagnosed in the same person
Two people on the same side of the family diagnosed with stomach cancer
Two people on the same side of the family diagnosed with stomach, colorectal, or uterine cancer, and at least one was diagnosed under age 50
Three or more people on the same side of the family diagnosed with stomach, colorectal, or uterine cancer at any age

The average person has a 1.8% (or 1 in 53) chance of developing kidney cancer in their lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for kidney cancer up to 70%.

If the following describes you or a close family member, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Kidney cancer diagnosed under age 47
Multiple kidney cancers diagnosed in the same person (not a recurrence of the same kidney cancer)
- Could be diagnosed with 2 separate kidney cancers at the same time or years apart
Two or more people on the same side of the family diagnosed with kidney cancer at any age
Three or more people on the same side of the family diagnosed with colorectal or uterine cancer at any age

Thyroid cancer is often diagnosed at an earlier age than other adult cancers. The average age of diagnosis is 51 years. The average person has a 1.1% (or 1 in 85) chance of developing thyroid cancer in their lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for thyroid cancer up to 100%.

If the following describes you or a close family member, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Diagnosed with a specific type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer
Diagnosed with thyroid cancer and a personal or family history of pheochromocytoma
Multiple people on the same side of the family diagnosed with thyroid cancer
Multiple people on the same side of the family diagnosed with thyroid, breast, colon, or uterine cancers

Colon polyps are protruding growths in the colon that have the potential to become colon cancer. Colon polyps are very common, in fact up to 40% of adults have colon polyps. However, some gene mutations can significantly increase the number of colon polyps a person develops, which increases their risk for colon cancer. If untreated, some gene mutations can lead to almost 100% chance of developing colon cancer.

There are different types of colon polyps, which are differentiated using a microscope. In genetics, we focus on 3 types of colon polyps: adenomas, hamartomatous (also know as juvenile) polyps, and serrated polyps. The number and types of polyps found during your colonoscopy will be listed on a pathology report.

If the following describes you or a close family member, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Ten or more adenomas*
Two or more hamartomatous polyps*
Twenty or more serrated polyps*

*Polyps can be found during 1 colonoscopy or over multiple colonoscopies

There are multiple types of blood cancers. We are currently aware of genetic predispositions to acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The average person has a 1.5% (or 1 in 65) chance of developing leukemia in their lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for leukemia.

If the following describes you or a close family member, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Diagnosed with acute leukemia (ALL or AML) under age 50
Diagnosed with MDS at any age
Diagnosed at any age with leukemia or MDS and with a different type of cancer

The average person has a 0.3% (or 1 in 300) chance of developing small intestine cancer in their lifetime. However, some gene mutations can increase a person's risk for small intestine cancer up to 13%.

If the following describes you or a close family member, you should consider cancer genetic counseling:

Small intestine cancer diagnosed under age 50
Multiple small intestine cancers diagnosed in the same person (not a recurrence of the first small intestine cancer)
Small intestine cancer and colorectal or uterine cancer diagnosed in the same person
Two people on the same side of the family diagnosed with small intestine, colorectal, or uterine cancer, and at least one was diagnosed under age 50
Three or more people on the same side of the family diagnosed with small intestine, colorectal, or uterine cancer at any age

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Hereditary Cancer

Genetic counseling and testing can help you understand your personal risk to develop cancer and help you make informed healthcare decisions

Potential benefits of hereditary cancer genetic counseling and testing

Personalize your cancer screening plan to detect cancer early

Identify potential treatment options and guide decision making, if diagnosed with cancer

Identify options to reduce cancer risk, such as preventive surgeries

Provide information for family members who may carry the same gene mutation

Who should consider hereditary cancer genetic counseling?

What personal or family cancer history is suggestive of hereditary cancer?

If you have a personal or family history of any of the following types of cancer, click on the box below to learn more information on when you should consider genetic counseling and testing.

Your genes are personal. Your healthcare should be too.

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