Cancer Care

Hereditary Cancer Risk Program

Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center  at Dallas is proud to offer a program that assesses an individual’s risk to have a hereditary form of cancer.  Our risk assessment program includes multiple types of hereditary cancer syndromes. 

During a genetic counseling session information is provided on the risk to develop cancer, surveillance and early detection options, genetic testing, as well as some prevention strategies and treatment options.  Learn how genetics can impact your cancer risk.

When to consider genetic counseling?

• Cancer that has a young age of diagnosis
• Multiple types of cancers in one individual
• Rare forms of cancer
•  A family history of similar cancers

What happens in a genetic counseling session:

• Review of personal and family medical information
• Family tree construction and analysis
• Calculation of cancer risk
• Genetic testing, when appropriate
• Guidelines for continued monitoring and management
• Education about research trials
• A written summary of cancer risk and interpretation of genetic testing results

Fees:

When genetic testing is performed it is billed separately by a genetic laboratory.  Most insurance companies cover the cost of genetic testing.

Types of cancers seen in the Hereditary Cancer Risk Program:

• Breast – individuals at high genetic predisposition for breast and other cancers
• Gastrointestinal– for individuals with personal and/or family histories of colorectal cancers, or other cancers
• Gynecological – individuals with an increased risk of ovarian, endometrial, or other cancers
• Melanoma– individuals with multiple melanomas or a family history of melanoma
• Others – Other cancers can also be hereditary.  If you think you have a strong personal and/or family history of cancer you may want to talk to your physician or a genetic counselor to learn if you could benefit from a hereditary cancer risk assessment.

For patients:

If you would like to find out more information about our hereditary cancer risk assessment program and genetic counseling services please contact 214-820-9600 or Cancergenetics@baylorhealth.edu.  You can schedule an appointment or ask to speak to a genetic counselor to learn more about genetics is involved in the development of cancer.

For physicians:

• Referral guidelines
• Risk assessment questionnaire