Genetic counseling and testing available at Mission Cancer + Blood

Genetic testing consists of a blood draw (or in some cases, a saliva sample). This sample is sent to a specialized lab for analysis of genes related to cancer risk. If there is a known mutation in your family, single site testing may be performed to look for the presence or absence of this specific mutation. Panel testing, which analyzes the entire genetic code of multiple cancer genes at once, may be recommended if there is not a known family mutation or if additional testing is needed. Panels may be “targeted” to include only genes associated with a certain cancer type (such as only genes associated with breast cancer) or “broad” to include genes associated with many different types of cancer. The decision about what test to perform is based on what the patient desires to know. It usually takes about two to three weeks to get results after blood has been drawn.

First, don’t panic! It’s important to know that having a mutation identified in one of these hereditary cancer genes does not mean that a person is certain to develop cancer. If positive, your genetic counselor will discuss with you the specific cancer risks related to your gene mutation and how this elevated cancer risk can be managed.

Some genes may be associated with a small increased risk of developing one or more types of cancer, while others might lead to much higher cancer risks. Your genetic counselor can discuss ways to reduce your risk of developing these cancers or screening strategies to identify cancer at its earliest stage. Family members may also benefit from genetic testing if a mutation is identified. Your genetic counselor can help you navigate communicating this information to your family and provide guidance about how testing can be performed for family members.

Most of the time, genetic testing results are negative, meaning that no mutation was identified in any of the genes that were analyzed. Testing negative does not mean that someone is not at risk of developing cancer. We still use your personal health information and family history information to assess risk and help you develop an individualized cancer screening plan. We can also assess risk without doing genetic testing and help a patient understand their cancer screening options. Depending on a family’s situation, other family members may still be recommended to have genetic testing.

Most cancers are sporadic and happen due to combinations of factors, such as aging, environmental exposures, and random genetic mutations that accumulate in a single cell over a person’s lifetime. The genetic changes that lead to sporadic cancer are acquired during a person’s life and are not inherited from their parents. These mutations are confined to the cancer cells and are not present in every cell of the body.

About 5-10% of all cancer is hereditary, meaning that the cancer is caused by a single gene change (“mutation”) that is passing through the family and putting people who have it at a higher risk for cancer. Some types of cancer are more likely to be hereditary than others, including (but not limited to) breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Others are less likely to be hereditary, such as lung cancer or cervical cancer. 

During a genetic counseling appointment, your genetic counselor will collect the family cancer history. If possible, we want to know who in the family has had cancer, what type of cancer occurred, and how old that relative was when the cancer was diagnosed. We use that information to determine if there are certain patterns to suggest that there could be a hereditary cancer condition related to the cancer in the family. We like to know information for at least three generations (back to your grandparents), but we know that some people can’t know all of their family history information, and some really don’t have any information available because of adoption or other life circumstances.

Some factors in a person or family that can make it more likely for a cancer to be hereditary include:

• Multiple generations of people with the same or related types of cancer.
• Cancer diagnosed at an early age (such as breast or colon cancer diagnosed prior to age 50).
• Individuals with multiple independent cancers (not a cancer that has come back or spread).
• Individuals with particular types of cancer, such as breast cancer in a male, pancreatic cancer, or ovarian cancer.

Costs vary widely depending on eligibility, insurance coverage and other factors. Part of the genetic counseling appointment is always spent talking about the anticipated cost of testing. Please call to discuss your personal situation, and we can help you determine next steps.

You have a choice in where you receive services like genetic counseling. If you’re concerned about your family history or your personal situation, you can call us directly to make an appointment – a referral is not required for genetic counseling services – or you can ask your health care provider to send a referral to Mission. Our counselors are often available for an appointment within just a few days of your call. Once you’ve decided genetic counseling is a smart next step, it doesn’t make sense to wait.