Cancer Genetics Unit at USC/Norris Cancer Center
Although most cancers are not hereditary, in some families a predisposition
to cancer can be passed from one generation to the other. The Cancer Genetics
Unit at USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital provides genetic
counseling and cancer risk assessment for individuals from high-risk families
and patients who have been diagnosed with cancer at a young age or at
multiple sites. The unit includes a genetic counselor and a team of cancer
specialists who provide genetic counseling for hereditary cancer and offer
genetic testing for some common tumors .Cancer prevention is our mission.
Those at high risk for cancer may be offered the opportunity to take advantage
of the many innovative strategies for cancer prevention, detection and
treatment that are under development at USC/Norris Cancer Center.
Understanding your risks
Your family history is key to understanding your cancer risk. Not every
family with cancer is a high-risk family. Genetic counseling can help
identify families with a hereditary pattern of cancer. Genetic testing
is more than a blood test. The team at the Cancer Genetics Unit can help
you explore the pros and cons of testing and answer some of the important
questions before you make your decision. What will a positive or negative
test result mean for me and my family? Once I know my cancer risk, what
are my options?
Early risk detection can have substantial benefits. Knowing your family's
cancer risk allows you to share potentially life-saving information with
your relatives. Some in the family may be reassured by a low risk, while
others can get the prevention and care they need early, long before cancer
develops.
F.A.Q.S.
Q: Can the risk of cancer be inherited?
A: Although in most cases having relatives with cancer will increase
cancer risk only slightly, in some families a high risk of cancer is
indeed inherited.
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Q: What is the link between family history and the risk
of cancer?
A: We know that although most of the time a high cancer risk does not
run in families, having close relatives diagnosed with cancer does increase
someone's risk of developing the disease. If several relatives are affected,
or if their cancers were diagnosed at young ages (before 50), the risk
of cancer to other family members may be higher.
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Q: How do I know if my family has a high risk of cancer?
A: A comprehensive evaluation of your family history by a clinical team
experienced in cancer risk assessment is the best way to determine the
level of cancer risk in your family. Certain characteristics of the
family history, such as 3 or more relatives on the same side of the
family with the same or related forms of cancer, or 2 or more relatives
diagnosed with cancer before age 50, or two different cancers in the
same person may provide clues. Some high-risk families are more difficult
to recognize because of small family size, or other factors.
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Q: What information should I collect on my family history?
A: Ask about your mother's and father's side of the family. Collect
information on at least 3 generations starting with you and going back
to your grandparents' generation. For each relative ask about serious
illnesses, birth defects, and inherited disorders. If the relative had
cancer, find out at what age it was diagnosed and where it started.
If the relative is deceased ask about the age and cause of death. Sometimes
you will need to recruit the help of other family members in gathering
this kind of information.
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Q: How is cancer risk inherited?
A: Genes are the blueprints for our bodies. They determine how we look
and how our bodies function. Changes or alterations in our genes can
be inherited or develop during our lifetime. Some genes, when altered,
can lead to cancer. Most of the time these genetic alterations occur
randomly as we get older, but in some families, about 5 to 10 percent
of all families with cancer, these genetic alterations can be passed
down from one generation to the next and lead to markedly increased
risks for certain cancers.
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Q: Is it possible to have a genetic test to find out about
my cancer risk?
A: Genetic testing is available for the most common hereditary breast,
ovarian, and colorectal cancers, as well as for a few other rare conditions.
Genetic testing can show if the cancer in a family is related to inherited
genetic alterations. It is usually performed on a blood sample. Genetic
tests for cancer risk are complex, and sometimes difficult to interpret.
In order to ensure that the most appropriate test is performed genetic
counseling is recommended prior to doing the test.
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Q: How would I decide if a genetic test for cancer risk
is right for me or my family?
A: The option of genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk may be offered
to individuals who appear to be at high risk based on their family or
personal histories of cancer. Because of the complex medical, psychosocial,
and family issues associated with testing, it should only be done as
part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program that includes genetic
counseling, education, and psychosocial evaluation. The decision to
be tested is very personal, and should be made only after the individual
has had ample opportunity to explore all its implications.
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Q: What should I do if I want to know more about my/my family's
risk of cancer?
A: The Cancer Genetics Unit at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
offers a comprehensive cancer risk assessment program that can help
you understand your cancer risks and review your options for managing
that cancer risk.  |
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