Familial Cancer Syndromes Health Article

Risks

Different familial cancer syndromes have different risks for cancer and associated symptoms. In general, a person who inherits the syndrome has a higher risk of developing the cancer associated with the syndrome than the general population, but this is not a guarantee that cancer will ever develop. On the other hand, someone who does not inherit the syndrome is not at increased risk for cancer above that of the general population, but this is no guarantee that cancer will not develop, and screening guidelines for the general population should be followed.

Genetic Testing

Although genetic testing is available for many familial cancer syndromes, there are genes that have yet to be discovered. Each syndrome has special issues surrounding genetic testing; for example, what age should the test be done? How would the results change medical management? Does insurance cover the test? How will the information affect the family? Health professionals familiar with familial cancer syndromes keep up to date with advances in cancer genetics, and work with families to discuss the risks, benefits and limitations of genetic testing.

Resources

BOOKS

Offit, K. Clinical Cancer Genetics: Risk Counseling and Management. New York: Wiley-Liss, 1998.

PERIODICALS

Cummings, S. "The Genetic Testing Process: How Much Counseling Is Needed?" Journal of Clinical Oncology 18 (1 Nov Supplement 2000): 60-4.

Elsas, L. J., and A. Trepanier. "Cancer genetics in primary care:When is genetic screening an option and when is it the standard of care?" Postgraduate Medicine 107 (April 2000): 191-208.

Lindor, N. M., and M. H. Greene. "The Concise Handbook of Family Cancer Syndromes." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 90 (15 July 1998): 1039-71.

Lynch, H., et al. "Clinical Impact of Molecular Genetic Diagnosis, Genetic Counseling, and Management of Hereditary Cancer: Part I: Studies of Cancer in Families." Cancer 86 (1999): 2449-56.

OTHER

"Autosomal Dominant Genes." WebMD June 2001. 27 June 2001 <http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/adam_imagepage_9084>.

"Statistics." American Cancer Society June 2001. 27 June 2001<http://www3.cancer.org/cancerinfo/>.

Laura L. Stein, M.S., C.G.C.

Gene

—A unit of heredity that codes for the formation of a protein. Genes determine how we grow and develop.

Inherited

—Qualities that are transmitted from parent to offspring in the genes.

Mutation

—A change in a genetic code which may result in altered function of a gene.

Syndrome

—The clustering of signs and symptoms that characterize a disease.