Before Your Appointment
Finding out you have an increased chance of hereditary cancer can feel very overwhelming. We are here to help you process and discuss next steps that fit you and your goals. Before your appointment, it may be helpful to write down a list of questions and concerns for your care team. When meeting with your care team, it can be helpful to have a second person attend the appointment to help you process all the new information. We recommend someone who will be there to support you and who you feel comfortable asking personal questions around.
Also, please send us a copy of the original genetic test reports for you and/or your family members. If you are having difficulty getting the original report, our assistant can help you. Given that family history plays an important role in your risk assessment, please complete a family history questionnaire through the personalized link that was sent to you as best as possible. Your genetic counselor will review your family history with you and help provide a comprehensive risk assessment from your family history.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
At the Center for BRCA Research, our patients’ health is our top priority. We developed the Hereditary Cancer Clinic to provide patients with a central location to receive medical care related to their hereditary cancer syndrome.
Working with Our Hereditary Cancer Providers
Our hereditary cancer providers are dedicated to helping patients navigate the many concerns associated with an inherited pathogenic variant and works closely with our genetic counselors and specialty providers to understand and manage your cancer risks specific to your pathogenic variant, personal history, and family history. Providers educate patients on cancer risks and symptoms, implements recommendations for screening, and refers to specialty providers when indicated.
Some of the services our nurse practitioner performs include:
- Breast cancer screening with clinical breast exams and breast imaging, such as mammograms and MRI
- Gynecologic cancer screenings with pelvic exam and pap smear
- Prostate cancer screening with digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
- Dermatology referral for melanoma screening
- Referral for colonoscopy for colon cancer screening
- Referral to specialists for risk-reducing surgeries, such as bilateral mastectomy with or without reconstruction
Working with Our Genetic Counselor
If you have not had genetic testing, the genetic counselor will review your family history and share information about hereditary cancer. She or he will discuss the potential benefits and limitations of genetic testing and help you consider these along with your medical and personal factors. If you decide to have genetic testing, the counselor will arrange this for you.
If you have had a positive genetic test in the past, the genetic counselor will review any new questions you have, as well as share new advances that are relevant to you and your family. She or he will review current recommendations for cancer monitoring and prevention. This is also a good opportunity to see if there are relatives who have not tested and may benefit from outreach.
Providing you with the medical care and support are the top priorities for your appointment. Our knowledge of and recommendations for hereditary cancer are changing quickly, with new research. We invite all of our patients to enroll in a long-term follow-up protocol that will allow us to use your information anonymously in research on hereditary cancer. Through this protocol, we will periodically send you updates about advances in hereditary cancer and also request occasional updates from you about your family. Your genetic counselor can tell you more about this and other research opportunities during your appointment.