The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

You may be surprised to learn that all cancer is genetic, but not all cancer is hereditary. What does that mean?  First, let’s talk about genes.  Genes are the instructions for our bodies.  They tell our bodies how to grow and develop and do all the processes that we need to stay alive.  Sometimes there are alterations (also called mutations) that cause a problem with these instructions and can cause health problems. We know that cancer is a genetic disease.  Cancer occurs when cells develop alterations in genes that allow the cells to grow in new ways and form tumors.  In about 5-10% of cases, there is a genetic alteration that the patient was born with that put them at higher risk to develop cancer.  This is what we mean when we talk about hereditary cancer.  Hereditary cancers are often seen in multiple relatives within a family. Scientists have identified many alterations in genes that can increase a person’s risk of cancer. A genetic test can often tell whether there is a hereditary risk for cancer in a family.  This means that the person has a higher chance for certain cancers than other people do.  Often, there are steps that can be taken to reduce this risk or detect cancer early.

In this service, our experienced doctors and genetic counselors see patients with personal and family histories of a wide range of cancers. This includes patients with and without cancer and those who have already had genetic testing. The list of known hereditary causes of cancer continues to grow.  Some of the inherited cancer syndromes we commonly see include:

• Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC)

• Lynch syndrome

• Polyposis syndromes, such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

• Familial Pancreatic Cancer

• Hereditary Paraganglioma-Pheochromocytoma Syndrome (PGL/PCC)

If you or your doctor are concerned about your increased risk for cancer based on your personal or family history, we are happy to review your history, provide a risk assessment, and give you individual health recommendations. 

It is very important to complete and return your intake forms before your appointment so that we can make the visit worth your while.

If you or a close relative have had genetic testing, make sure to send that information as well.

Your initial appointment will be 60 minutes. Please arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time to check in for in-person visits or log on 15 minutes before for a tele-health visit.

During your visit, you will meet with a genetic counselor and/or one of our doctors, depending on your case.  At the visit, we will:

• Review your personal and family cancer history and assess your cancer risk. 

• Talk about the option of genetic testing including the process, possible results, cost, and any other concerns you may have.

• Help you decide whether to have genetic testing now.  If indicated, we can get a DNA sample and order the testing at your in person visit or send a test kit to your home.

• Provide cancer screening and risk reduction recommendations as appropriate.