Genetics

The Cancer Genetics Clinic at AtlantiCare provides an opportunity for patients with concerns for a possible hereditary cancer risk in their family to meet with a board-certified and licensed genetic counselor to receive a personalized cancer genetic risk assessment. Genetic counselors are specifically trained to help patients understand the complexities of cancer genetics and guide patients through the genetic testing process.

While most cancers are sporadic and occur by chance a small percentage ~5-10% of cancers are hereditary and due to an identifiable genetic mutation. Genetic testing allows a patient to determine if they were born with an increased risk to develop certain cancer(s). If genetic testing reveals a hereditary risk, a genetic counselor is able to review the associated cancer risks based on the genetic finding and provide screening and management recommendations with the goal of prevention and early detection. If you already have a cancer diagnosis, genetic testing results may help your doctors make treatment decisions. Genetic testing can also provide information for relatives regarding likelihood of a hereditary risk.