Genetic Counseling
The goals of the Smilow Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program are to provide a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to the care of patients at increased risk of cancer, to make new research advances and to improve awareness about cancer risk and prevention through education and community outreach. Our team of cancer genetics experts includes licensed, certified genetic counselors, physicians from multiple disciplines, a nurse practitioner and scientists.
Our aims are:
- Clinical: Provide patient-centered care and teamwork between healthcare providers.
- Research: Advance the field of cancer genetics and prevention.
- Education: Provide educational experiences for genetic counseling students, medical students and other providers.
- Community Outreach: Promote awareness of hereditary cancer risk and education about cancer prevention options.
A cancer genetics consultation can help individuals understand their risk for developing cancer or additional cancers and cancer risks for family members. This
process typically involves an initial consultation and follow-up by phone and/or in-person and includes:
- A detailed review of family and personal medical history
- An assessment of the chance that the cancers in a family are hereditary
- A discussion of the available genetic testing options and their risks, benefits and limitations
- Coordination of testing and interpretation of test results
- An individualized plan for cancer screening, prevention and recommendations for family members
Appointments are available at 111 Beach Road in Fairfield,
Park Avenue Medical Center in Trumbull and New Haven locations and can be scheduled by calling 203-200-4362.
Who Can Benefit From Genetic Counseling?
If you have a personal and/or family history of any of the following, you may be a candidate for genetic counseling:
- Multiple relatives on the same side of the family with the same cancer or potentially related cancers (breast, ovary, uterus, pancreas, prostate, colon)
- Cancer at unusually early ages, such as breast cancer younger than 45 years, colon cancer younger than 50 years or uterine cancer younger than 50 years
- More than one diagnosis of cancer in the same individual
- Rare cancers, such as male breast cancer or medullary thyroid cancer
- Jewish ancestry and breast, ovarian and/or pancreatic cancer
- A family history of a known altered cancer-predisposing gene
