Genetic Counseling and Hereditary Cancer

The genes you inherit from your parents can raise your risk for some kinds of cancer. All cancers are caused by mutations in your cells — most of the time those mutations happen simply because of aging, or because of lifestyle choices like smoking.

Sometimes, though, in about 5%-10% of cancers, the mutations are handed down through families. If you have one of these inherited mutations, you can minimize your cancer risk by following established health care guidelines and taking a proactive approach to your health. The genetic counseling program at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and our Hereditary Cancer Clinic can help to guide you in your health care decisions.

Genetic counseling and testing

Having an inherited mutation that increases your risk of cancer does not automatically mean that you will get cancer. Preventive measures and targeted screenings can help you to manage your risk. The genetics team at Hollings is here to help you.

The first step in determining your level of risk is genetic counseling and testing. Genetic counselors at Hollings are masters-trained and certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling to help you decide if genetic testing is right for you.

Our genetic counselors are available for consultations if you have cancer, if you had cancer but are in remission or if you have a family member previously diagnosed with cancer. Our experienced genetic counseling team can provide recommendations for ongoing surveillance based on your results.

To make an appointment with our genetic counselors, call 843-792-0745.

Hereditary Cancer Clinic

If genetic testing at Hollings reveals an inherited mutation that could lead to cancer, or if you have recently learned you have an inherited mutation through genetic counseling and testing elsewhere, you will be referred to the Hereditary Cancer Clinic.

The Hollings Hereditary Cancer Clinic is one of the first centers in the United States that focuses on working with people at risk of hereditary cancer. The Hereditary Cancer Clinic provides a central location where patients with mutations for any type of hereditary cancer can get counseling, testing, screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

To make an appointment with the Hereditary Cancer Clinic, call 843-792-0745.

What is hereditary cancer?

Hereditary cancers are caused by genetic changes, or mutations, that are passed down through families. Cancers that tend to be hereditary include breast, ovarian, melanoma (a type of skin cancer), pancreatic, and prostate. Some mutations can cause patterns of certain types of cancers that run in families. These are called family cancer syndromes.

Family Cancer Syndromes

Some inherited mutations can cause family patterns of cancer. For example, a woman whose two sisters both developed breast cancer at an early age (35 and 41 years old) who also has an aunt with ovarian cancer is likely to have an amplified cancer risk.

If a hereditary cancer pattern is found, genetic testing can help family members know if they are also at high risk for developing cancer. Genetic testing is usually recommended for any blood relative of a person for whom genetic testing shows a mutation. Examples of family cancer syndromes include:

• Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer syndrome (BRCA1, BRCA2, and other genes).
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53).
• Cowden syndrome (PTEN).
• Lynch syndrome (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM).

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