Genetic Screening for Breast and Ovarian
Cancer
Up to 10 percent of all cancers are inherited.
Myriad Genetic Laboratories is a leader
in cancer predisposition testing, offering the most accurate, highest-quality
clinical tests available to determine predisposition to cancer.
Martin Memorial Cancer Center offers genetic
education, counseling and testing for:
- Breast and Ovarian Cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Melanoma
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
Tool is an interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) and the National Surgical
Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) to estimate a woman's risk of
developing
invasive breast cancer. The tool has been updated for African American women
based on the Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study.
For more information about genetic testing, our
genetic nurse educator is available for an initial evaluation:
Contact Us:
Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center
Genetic Screening
501 E. Osceola St.
Stuart, FL 34994
For BRCA1 and BRCA2 (Breast and Ovarian Cancer
Syndrome)
Contact:
Andrea Schwerdt, RN, BSN, OCN
Breast Health Navigator/Genetics Nurse Educator
Robert & Carol Weissman Cancer Center at Martin Health System
501 E.Osceola St, 2nd Floor, Stuart, FL, 34994
(772) 223-5945 Ext. 3774
Fax (772) 692-5144
aschwerdt@mmhs-fla.org
or
Lindsay Mattino, RN, BS
(772) 223-5945 Ext. 1669
For Colon Cancer or Melanoma
Contact:
Lindsay Mattino, RN, BS
772-223-5945 Ext. 1669
More
information on the Martin Health System Website
>>
Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment
Most of the time cancer happens by chance.
However, is some families cancer may be caused by changes in certain genes that
can be passed from generation to generation. These genetic changes
significantly increase a person's risk for certain cancers, including a second
cancer in those who have already been diagnosed. Family members will
benefit from this information, as will you, since heredity cancer risk can be
significantly reduced with the right medical interventions A careful
review of your family history is an essential first step, so please check all of
the boxes that apply to you.
Have YOU been diagnosed with...
Cancer
The word can cause fear when you first hear it.
Research has shown that approximately 7 percent of breast cancers and 10 percent
of ovarian cancers are inherited from our parents.
At Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center, we understand
the anxiety that a diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer can cause a family.
Therefore, we offer genetic education, counseling and testing that provides
valuable information to you and your family members about your risk of having an
inherited cancer.
Knowing your cancer risk may help you and your
doctor make informed decisions for the prevention and early detection of breast
or ovarian cancer.
After reading this and evaluating your personal
risk, contact the Genetics Program at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer
Center if you
have any concerns about a risk of inheriting cancer.
Understanding Hereditary Risk
Overall, American women have a one-in-eight
chance of developing breast cancer and a one-in-55 chance of developing ovarian
cancer during their lifetime. For some women, however, the risk is much
higher. Women at increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer generally
belong to families in which other members of the family have had these diseases.
In some families, cancer is caused by a gene mutation that is passed down from
mothers or fathers to their children. These genes, named BRCA1 and BRCA2,
normally work to prevent cancer, but if a mutation occurs, these genes no longer
function properly and cancer can occur.
The Testing Decision
Confidential genetic testing for susceptibility
to breast and ovarian cancer is not for everyone. It is not like a
mammogram or other screening test intended for the general population, but
rather is intended for individuals thought to be at high risk for breast or
ovarian cancer because of their family history, or because they themselves
developed breast cancer at an early age. The questionnaire below is about
personal and family characteristics associated with the risk of hereditary
breast and ovarian cancer.
Before deciding to have genetic testing, it is
important for an individual to fully discuss testing and its possible
implications with a qualified health professional. Every individual who
decides to be tested is asked to sign an informed consent form, which is an
agreement between the individual and the doctor showing that they have discussed
the test and its possible implications for the individual and has or her family.
For many people, knowing their test result is
important, because this information may help to guide health care decisions for
themselves and their families. Before deciding to be tested, however, it
is important for individuals to think about how they and their families might
deal with the issues raised by knowing their test results. If you are
thinking about genetic testing, ask your doctor or other qualified professional
for more information.
If you are considering genetic testing, please
keep these important considerations in mind:
- By age 70, the majority of women with a
BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer. Women with a BRCA1
or BRCA2 mutation also have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
- Breast cancers that are caused by BRCA1 or
BRCA2 mutations are most often diagnosed before a woman reaches age 50.
- Certain mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
are especially common along Ashkenazi Jews, whose ancestors come from
central or eastern Europe. (Most American Jews are of Ashkenazi
descent.)
- Although breast cancer is rare in men, a man
may carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation which can be passed on to his children.
For example, a man who has a mother or sister with a known BRCA1 or BRCA2
mutation may also have inherited the mutation. If he did, each of his
children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the same mutation and risk of
cancer.
For information on organizations addressing
genetics and Breast Cancer in women >>
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