Cancer Care
Genetic Counseling Program
Understanding your risk is the first step toward taking control of your health. At the nationally accredited CaroMont Cancer Center, genetic counseling is part of your cancer care, not a separate step you navigate on your own. Our board-certified genetic counselor works hand in hand with your oncologist, nurse navigators and the rest of your care team, so what you learn about your genes can directly shape your screening, prevention and treatment plans. And because inherited risk runs in families, your results can also help your loved ones better understand their own health.
If you are referred to genetic counseling, you will meet with a genetic counselor who takes the time to understand your personal and family medical history and discuss whether genetic testing is right for you. If you do move forward with testing, your genetic counselor will walk you through your results and what they mean for your care, so you always know what's next.
What can genetic testing do for you and your family?
Learning about your genetic risk can help you prevent cancer or find it early, when it's most treatable. If you do get cancer or already have cancer, genetic testing may change how your doctors treat it. If a genetic cause of your cancer is found, that information may help your family members prevent or find cancer early too.
Are you eligible for genetic testing?
If you've been diagnosed with one or more of the cancers below, genetic testing may be recommended, including testing for inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome or mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
- Pancreatic cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer that has spread or is considered high-risk
- Uterine/endometrial cancer
- Colon cancer
- Breast cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Adrenocortical carcinoma
- Paraganglioma or pheochromocytoma
You may want to consider genetic counseling if you or close family members have had:
- Multiple people on the same side of your family diagnosed with the same cancer or related cancers, such as breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers or colon, rectal, uterine/endometrial, bladder, stomach, pancreatic and ovarian cancers
- Cancer diagnosed at a young age (below age 50)
- Cancer more than once (the same cancer multiple times or different cancers)
- A test showing a gene mutation associated with an increased risk of cancer
- 10 or more colon polyps in your lifetime
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
- Personal or family history of rare cancer (such as male breast cancer, pancreatic cancer or ovarian cancer)
How to see a genetic counselor
Genetic counseling at CaroMont Health requires a referral from one of your healthcare providers. This can be your primary care provider, oncologist, OB/GYN, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist or another provider involved in your care.
If any of the above applies to you or your family, talk with your provider about whether genetic counseling is right for you. They can answer your questions and send a referral to our genetic counselor. Once a referral is received, you will be contacted to schedule your appointment.
At this time, we are not able to accept self-referrals or schedule appointments directly with patients.
Preparing for your visit
Before your appointment, it helps to learn as much as you can about the history of cancer in your family. For each family member who has had cancer, try to find out:
- Where in their body the cancer started
- How old they were when they were diagnosed
- Whether they had genetic testing
If a family member has had genetic testing, bring a copy of their results if you can. Your genetic counselor will review them and talk with you about your options.
Meeting with a genetic counselor does not mean you have to be tested. Testing may be offered, but the choice is always yours.
What to expect during testing
If you and your genetic counselor decide testing is right for you, it typically involves giving a blood or saliva sample. Results are usually available within a few weeks, and your genetic counselor will review them with you in detail, explaining what they mean for your care and for your family.
Cost and insurance
Genetic testing is often covered by insurance when a patient has risk factors for cancer or an existing cancer diagnosis. If you're concerned about cost, ask your genetic counselor about coverage and available financial assistance before moving forward.