Hereditary Cancer Resources

Approximately 5-10% of all cancer is due to hereditary cancer syndromes. More cancers are likely influenced by genetic factors associated with moderate risk. Being able to identify individuals at increased cancer risk through family history and, in some cases, genetic testing, can influence management and outcomes through increasing screening and/or risk-reducing interventions. The resources below provide opportunities to learn about hereditary cancer syndromes, identify individuals at increased risk, interpret genetic testing results, apply genetic information to management, collaborate with genetics professionals, and communicate with patients. We also have resources about somatic testing and targeted therapies, which are available on our Precision Oncology Resources page.

Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Factsheets

These factsheets describe the clinical features, diagnosis, testing, and genetics of the following hereditary cancer syndromes.

• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
• Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome
• Lynch Syndrome
• MUTYH-Associated Adenomatous Polyposis

Resources

Risk Assessment

Family History Collection Tips & Tools. Provides tips, resources, and tools for family history collection in clinical practice.

Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment. Helps identify red flags and stratify cancer risk based on family history.

Genetically Related Cancers. Provides key features and cancer risks associated with common hereditary cancer syndromes.

Risk Assessment and Screening Toolkit to Detect Familial, Hereditary, and Early Onset Colorectal Cancer. Helps primary care providers implement a structured family history collection system to identify and manage individuals at increased or high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), and to facilitate timely diagnostic evaluation of patients with signs or symptoms of early onset CRC.

Genetic Testing

Comparing Genetic Tests. Provides a quick reference for the detection capabilities for common types of genetic testing, such as gene sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis.

Genetic Testing Methods eBook. Provides information about different genetic testing methods currently used in testing for hereditary cancer syndromes (enhanced e-book available for download).

Genetic Testing Results Interpretation Tool. Outlines how to interpret results from cancer genetic testing in different patient situations.

Management

Cancer Screening. Summarizes professional society guidance about screening for individuals at average, increased, and high risk for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer.

Hereditary Cancer Management Guidelines. Provides access to current management guidelines based on genetic or familial risk.

Communication

Communicating Genetic Risk. Outlines key points to consider when communicating risk to patients.

Pretest Counseling Recommendations. Outlines key points to address during pretest counseling.

Informed Consents and Pretest Counseling Checklist. Provides a checklist of key points to cover with patients prior to genetic testing.

Communicating with Family. Outlines key points to consider when discussing family communication with patients.

Genetic Services

Components of a Cancer Genetic Counseling Session. Discusses the core components of a cancer genetic counseling session.

Accessing Genetic Services. Lists tools and websites to help find genetics professionals and provides patient talking points about referring to genetics. Find cancer genetic services in ME, CT, and Western NY.

Patient Resources

Hereditary Breast Cancer Patient and Family Resources. Provides patient resources for understanding genetic services and breast cancer genetics.

Beyond Genetics: Genomics in Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Research. Explores one cancer survivor’s journey through diagnosis, treatment, and life after treatment.

Blogs

• Three things to know about DTC breast cancer genetic testing
• BRCA testing for people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
• Can polyps detected by early screening help to identify individuals at risk of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes?
• Can we do a better job of preserving fertility and ovarian function for young breast cancer survivors?
• Colorectal cancer screening recommended by the American Cancer Society
• Could earlier colorectal cancer screening help identify more people with hereditary cancer?

Online Courses

Free, self-directed programs for continuing education credit.

Cancer Genetic Clinical Education Program
Build skills to identify and manage patients who at increased risk of cancer based on family health history and/or genetic testing. Choose from 11 short, case-based modules.
Access Program

Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Are Your Patients at Risk?
Develop skills and knowledge to identify patients with cancer who are most appropriate for germline testing, choose the right test, and using the results to develop a management plan.
Access CME Module