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Genetic Counseling

Does cancer run in your family?

Have you or anyone in your family been diagnosed with cancer before 50 years of age?

PAMF's Cancer Care Clinic offers genetic counseling services, including genetic testing, to help you determine your risk of developing cancer. During a genetic counseling visit, our oncology/genomics clinical nurse specialist will ask you about your family medical history, particularly about cancer and related medical conditions. We'll use this information to construct a "family tree" that will help us determine your risk of developing cancer.

The clinical nurse specialist will talk to you about cancer genetics and will determine if genetic testing is appropriate. We will help you determine your insurance coverage, as well as coordinate the simple blood draw required for genetic testing.

We currently offer the following genetic tests routinely:

Breast Cancer Genes 1 and 2 (BRCA1 and BRCA2)
Colorectal Cancer Genes ("Lynch Syndrome" - mainly HNPCC, FAP, AFAP)

If we determine that other genetic tests are appropriate for you, we will arrange these tests for you.

Whether or not you test positive for genetic mutations, we will provide you with practical advice on how you and your family can reduce your risk of developing cancer, including changing patterns of cancer screening, or even prophylactic treatments, as appropriate.

The Cancer Care Program provides genetic counseling services at the Palo Alto Center. If you would like to schedule an initial genetic counseling session, contact us at 650-853-2946.

Palo Alto Center
795 El Camino Real
Lee Building, Level 3
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Main phone: 650-321-4121
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