Genetic counseling at UT
Southwestern Medical Center helps patients and families determine if they are
at an increased risk of cancer. Our board-certified genetic counselors are
trained to identify high-risk families and help them understand their risk of
developing cancer as well as their options for prevention, early detection, and
treatment.
Genetic counseling is important
because, if a patient is found to have an increased risk of cancer, he or she might
choose to take certain preventive measures to reduce the risk of actually
developing the disease. Also, when patients discover they or their family
members do not have an increased risk of cancer, it can relieve anxiety and
avoid unnecessarily intensive monitoring strategies.
Cancer Risk
Assessment
During genetic counseling, our
genetic counselors perform a personalized hereditary cancer evaluation and
provide each patient with a risk assessment.
The evaluation takes about 45
minutes and includes:
- A detailed family medical history
- Review of risk factors that includes the
inherited nature of cancer, as well as environment, lifestyle, and diet
- Genetic tests, when indicated, and
interpretation of the results
- Recommended screenings and medical
interventions, if necessary
- Referrals to resources for follow-up
care and support
We also use CancerGene Connect, a
program developed by former UT Southwestern breast surgical oncologist
David Euhus, M.D., to run several different risk assessment models to assess
patients’ lifetime risk of certain cancers.
Preparing
for Genetic Counseling
Prior to a genetic counseling
appointment, it’s important for patients to gather as much information about their
own medical history as possible and bring a copy of their medical records to
the appointment.
Patients should discuss their
family history with their relatives to find out who in the family had cancer,
what type of cancer they had, how old they were at diagnosis, and any specific
treatments they had.
If other relatives have had
genetic testing, it’s useful to have a copy of their results.
Prior to a genetic risk
assessment or genetic counseling appointment at UT Southwestern, patients will
be asked to fill out our online questionnaire called CancerGene Connect. This
questionnaire helps provide our genetic counselors with the maximum information
about patients’ personal medical history and any family history of cancer prior
to the appointment. It also allows our counselors to spend more time evaluating
and discussing a patient’s particular concerns during the appointment.
The
Results
After the first appointment, we
will complete a cancer risk analysis and calculation. If appropriate, we might
recommend genetic
testing. Our
genetic counselors will discuss the advantages and limitations of genetic
testing with each patient. All the information found and discussed will be
documented in a letter that will be sent to each patient following the visit.
Videos
The following videos help explain why it’s
important for patients to understand their risk for hereditary cancer.
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Prevention Recommendations
Lynch Syndrome: Cancer Prevention Recommendations
Gathering Family Medical History
