Often it is not immediately apparent that a cancer is genetic. That determination requires a thorough evaluation of the family history and a study of the pattern of cancer occurrences within the family. The family's physicians can provide a type of triage by identifying those families that are likely to have a familial or hereditary cancer. Many physicians do not have the time or resources to evaluate the situation in the depth required for a hereditary cancer syndrome diagnosis. The purpose of our hereditary cancer prevention clinic is to provide that evaluation and the genetic counseling and education essential for families identified with hereditary forms of cancer.
