General Information

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The Hereditary Cancer Foundation does not diagnose or perform the hereditary testing. We connect patients with providers who do genetic testing and other organizations who offer services and programs that assist patients with cancer or those at high risk for cancer. The information on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please talk to your healthcare provider about any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.

Should I consider Hereditary Cancer Testing?

If these apply to you, reach out to your health care provider to see if testing is appropriate or se

A Personal diagnosis of breast, ovarian, colon, rectal or pancreatic cancer or endometrial (uterine cancer at 64 or younger)
A first or second degree relative with ovarian cancer at any age
A (specify 1st degree relative or leave more generic) relative with pancreatic or metastatic prostate cancer at any age.
A breast, colon or uterine cancer in the family diagnosed at age 49 or younger
3 cancers on the same side of the family
A relative with two or more cancer diagnosis.

Why is Hereditary Cancer Testing Important?

When you know your Hereditary Cancer Risk, You can ACT upon it and possibly prevent it!

When your Doctor finds Hereditary Cancer to be appropriate, testing will check for 48 genes that are linked to 11 cancers.

10-15% of Cancers are HEREDITARY

Technically all cancers are genetic (our own cells growing out of control), but 10-15% are hereditary, being passed down from generation to generation

**Inheriting a cancer-related genetic change doesn’t mean you will definitely get cancer. It means that your risk of getting cancer is increased.