Genetic cancer testing can help identify inherited gene changes that may increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer or for some patients genetic testing can help determine the best treatment for their specific cancer.
Inherited cancer explained
Genes control the growth, division and life span of every cell in the body. Your genes come in pairs – one inherited from your biological mother and father.
Some people inherit altered genes that may increase the risk of developing cancers. For example, a woman who has inherited a single altered copy of one of the specific breast cancer genes (known as BRCA1 and BRCA2) has a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer than a woman who inherited two normal copies of both genes.
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Risks of inherited cancers
A small number of families have a greater risk of certain cancers such as breast, ovarian and bowel cancers because they carry a changed gene.
Families who may be at potentially high risk of breast or ovarian cancer include those with three or more relatives with breast or ovarian cancer.
Families with two or more relatives who have breast or ovarian cancer are also considered to be at potentially high risk, if the affected relatives fall into any of the following categories:
cancer in both breasts
onset of breast cancer before the age of 40
ovarian cancer at any age
breast and ovarian cancer in the same relative
breast cancer in a male relative breast cancer has pathological features that suggest the presence of an inherited predisposition
Families who may be at potentially high risk of bowel cancer include those with three or more relatives on the same side of the family with bowel cancer.
Families with two or more relatives with bowel cancer are also considered to have an increased risk if there is:
more than one bowel cancer in the same relative
onset of bowel cancer before the age of 50
a relative with endometrial or ovarian cancer
a relative with bowel cancer and with a large number of bowel polyps
For other types of cancers, people are at increased risk if they have:
several relatives who have the same type of cancer
a relative who has been found to carry a particular altered gene
Rebecca’s story
Icon Cancer Centre patient, Rebecca was diagnosed with an aggressive, triple negative breast cancer. Rebecca took the advice of her doctors and was tested for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene to provide reassurance and to effectively determine what would be the best treatment for her cancer.
When I was told I had cancer, it felt like the earth had swallowed me up and I sat and cried for a long time. Then you go through the appointments and the scans and doctors explaining the treatment to you, which was pretty full on
“My doctor then suggested I get genetically tested for the breast cancer gene because it looked aggressive. It dawned on me that I needed to know if I had the gene mutation as soon as possible. If I did, it would mean a double mastectomy, followed by the removal of my fallopian tubes and ovaries. The thought of losing both my breasts and undergoing a lot more surgery was daunting. So getting tested was necessary and would determine whether I needed to proceed with this. The test itself was simple, and results came back within a few weeks. Thankfully for me, they came back negative and I breathed a sigh of relief for myself and my children. With peace of mind, I was then able to continue with chemotherapy then a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy.”
Genetic testing
Genetic testing is available to families at high risk. Generally, it is necessary to test a family member who has had cancer first to identify the genetic change causing cancer in the family. If a genetic change is found, blood relatives who have no signs of cancer can then choose to have testing to find out if they have inherited the altered gene which could increase their risk of developing cancer.
What is genetic counselling?
Genetic counselling gives you information that you and your family can use to make decisions about whether to get genetic testing.
Before and after genetic testing, a genetic counsellor can help you understand:
your risk of getting certain types of cancer based on your family’s medical history
what you can do about this risk
which genetic tests can give you more information about your risk level
what your test results might mean
Your counsellor will explain the testing process and tell you more about what the tests can and cannot do. Together, you will also discuss how the test results may affect your emotions, mental health, and family.
Icon’s Genetic Counselling Service
Icon Cancer Centre Hobart has a dedicated private genetic counselling service for patients. The service provides cancer risk assessment, genetic testing and advice.
Our genetic counsellor, Julia Mansour offers consultation appointments on-site at Icon Cancer Centre Hobart or by telehealth for patients outside of Hobart.
How to refer
Icon accepts referrals for patients with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, bowel, or endometrial cancer. Referrals for patients with rare or unusual cancers will also be considered.
GP and specialist referrals are accepted through HealthLink and patients can self-refer by emailing genetics.hobart@icon.team
To discuss patient eligibility for this service, please contact genetics.hobart@icon.team
Our team will contact the patient directly to arrange an appointment and complete a family history questionnaire prior to appointment.
Other helpful resources
The content on the Icon Cancer Centre website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. For personalised medical guidance, please consult with your GP or another qualified healthcare provider.
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