Genetic Testing and Counseling
Atrium Health Floyd Medical Cener The Breast Center offers genetic testing and counseling to help both men and women understand how a family history of cancer could impact their lifetime risk for many types of cancers.
Our genetic testing program looks at over 80 genes to check your risk for certain types of cancer including brain, breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, renal, skin, uterine and colon cancers.
Approximately 5% - 10% of cancers are the result of an inherited, or hereditary, genetic mutation. This means that a change has occurred on a gene that has been passed along to you.
A genetic mutation can impact your risk for many types of cancer. Understanding if you or your family has an inherited genetic risk can help you take action to reduce your risk and improve your cancer screening strategies.
When Should You Have Genetic Testing for Cancer?
You should consider genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer risk if you or your family’s history includes any of the following:
- Breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger
- Male breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer that has spread to other areas of the body
- Colon or uterine cancer at age 50 or younger
- Triple negative breast cancer diagnosed at any age
- Three or more close relatives on the same side of the family with any combination of breast or prostate cancer
- Three or more close relatives with colon or uterine cancer on the same side of the family
- A known genetic mutation in your family
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
