Cancer Genetic Counseling

Genetic Cancer Screening and Risk Assessment at Carilion Clinic

The majority of cancer is sporadic and caused by a variety of factors, including genetic makeup, and personal and environmental influences. In fact, only five to 10 percent of cancer is hereditary.

Hereditary cancer develops as a result of a genetic error, or mutation, passed down from a parent to a child. Inheriting a gene mutation does not necessarily mean that a person will develop cancer, but the risk increases. It is important to identify families with hereditary susceptibility to cancer because they can take steps to reduce their risk or prevent cancer from occuring.

Thuy Vu, M.S., C.G.C., is a cancer genetics counselor at Carilion Clinic

Red Flags for Hereditary Cancer

Consider a family cancer risk assessment if you have a personal and/or family history of cancer, including breast, colon/rectal, kidney, melanoma, ovarian, pancreatic, small bowel, stomach, thyroid or uterine, and and of the following applies:

• Three or more relatives on the same side of the family with the same type of cancer or related cancers (e.g., breast and ovarian cancer or colon and uterine cancer)
• More than one type of cancer or bilateral cancers in the same person (e.g., cancer in both breasts)
• Cancer at an unusually young age (e.g., breast, colon or uterine cancer diagnosed under age 50)
• Rare cancer (e.g., male breast cancer, ovarian epithelial cancer or medullary thyroid cancer)
• Ashkenazi Jewish decent and cancer in the family
• More than 10 to 15 precancerous polyps in the colon/GI tract in a person's lifetime
• Previous genetic testing in the family, even if the results were negative

Cancer Genetics Program at Carilion Clinic

Thuy Vu, M.S., C.G.C., a cancer genetic counselor, recently came to Carilion Clinic from the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She provides comprehensive risk assessments and genetic counseling to patients for inherited cancer conditions.

Typically, Vu sees individuals and families who have:

• An unusual pattern of cancer in the family
• Onset of cancer at an unusually young age among family members
• Family members with the same kind or related types of cancer
• Family members with more than one kind of cancer
• Rare forms of cancer among family members

Vu also educates patients about their cancer risks and about guidelines for cancer screening and prevention; links them to resources and support groups; coordinates genetic testing and related insurance issues; and identifies and enrolls eligible patients in cancer research studies.