Cancer Care
Gynecologic Oncology Program
Hereditary Cancer -- One out of every three Americans will develop cancer during their
lifetime. Many will have one or more family members affected by the disease and wonder, “Does my family have a hereditary risk for cancer?”
The good news is that nine out of 10 times, cancer is sporadic and caused by a variety of factors, including genetic makeup and environmental influences. Only 5-10 percent of certain cancers are hereditary. It is important to identify families with inherited susceptibility because in many cases they can take steps to reduce their risk or prevent cancer from occurring.
Assessing Your Genetic Risk
Our Genetic Education Program is committed to providing people with the most current research about hereditary breast, ovarian and colon cancer and guidelines for screening and treatment. Our specially trained staff work one-on-one with patients – under the medical direction of James Fiorica, MD, head of Sarasota Memorial’s Women’s Cancer Specialty Program – to review their concerns about cancer history in their family, provide personal and family risk assessments and offer follow-up consultations to discuss genetic testing options and implications of test results.
Although a physician referral is not required to participate in our genetic counseling program, patients should know that their insurance company may require a referral in order to cover our services.
Sarasota Memorial’s Institute for Cancer Care offers the only cancer genetic screening program in Sarasota County. Our cancer care program has earned the highest level of accreditation by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer and is one of only two cancer care programs in Florida listed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2005 50 Best Hospitals list.
Call our Genetic Education Program for more Information: 941-917-2005
|
