Cancer genetics: Addressing your cancer concerns

Genetic counselors at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center can help you get answers. We provide risk assessments and counseling to people with concerns about cancer in their family tree.

We help you understand your risk, which can provide peace of mind. If you have an increased chance of getting cancer, we can help you develop a screening plan. If you currently have cancer, we provide personalized guidance for you and your provider to make decisions about your treatment and follow-up care.

Most people do not know that genetic counseling and genetic testing are different. You can talk with a genetic counselor without knowing if you want genetic testing to learn more about your options.

With a referral from your provider, we can help you make informed decisions that may benefit the long-term health of you and your family members.

How we help

Our risk assessments provide you with personalized information regarding:

• Inherited cancer risk factors

• Targeted screening recommendations

• Prevention options
  

We also provide emotional support. We know that when you seek our services, it may be a challenging time. We make the process as easy and as reassuring as possible.

What to expect

When you come to us, we will:

• Collect detailed medical and family histories

• Teach you about genetic and nongenetic cancer risk factors

• Assess the likelihood that cancer in the family is linked to genetics

• Discuss the risks, benefits and limitations of genetic testing

• Provide cancer risk estimates for you and your family members

• Help you adjust to the news you receive

• Address issues related to insurance and privacy

We can help if you have a personal or family history of cancer that includes:

• A hereditary cancer syndrome or variant (mutation) in a gene known to raise cancer risk in the family

• More than one cancer in the same person (cancer in both breasts, for example, or two different types of cancer)

• Onset of cancer before age 50 for you or close family member

• Rare cancers, such as male breast cancer or medullary thyroid cancer

• Several relatives on the same side of the family with cancer
  

To learn more, please call (608) 263-7284 in Wisconsin or (779) 696-9400 in Illinois.

Your history form

To prepare for your appointment, please complete the history form below and provide it to your genetic counselor. You can provide the printed form at your appointment or send it to your genetic counselor through MyChart.

• History form

Insurance information

Many insurance plans cover a genetic counseling appointment. Any cost to you will depend on your specific plan. The cost of any follow-up genetic testing will depend on the genetic counselor’s assessment and will be discussed during your genetic counseling appointment.