Genetic Counseling & Testing

Cancer is so common that many of us have one or more family members affected by the disease. About 70 percent is sporadic and caused by many factors, including genetic and environmental influences.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 5 to 10 percent of cancer has a strong genetic predisposition. Individuals with a hereditary cancer syndrome will have a higher chance of developing cancer within their lifetime and at an earlier age. Genetic testing can help determine whether a family is at risk for a hereditary cancer syndrome.

Individuals who have genetically higher risks to develop certain cancers are recommended to follow high-risk cancer surveillance and management programs to reduce their risk or prevent cancer from occurring.

Characteristics of Hereditary Cancer Susceptibility

• The same or related types of cancer in two or more close relatives on the same side of the family (close relatives are parents, siblings, children, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews)
• Cancer in multiple generations
• An early age at diagnosis (usually under age 50)
• Multiple primary tumors or bilateral cancer (like cancer in both breasts)
• A pattern of cancer consistent with a specific hereditary cancer syndrome (e.g., breast and ovarian or colon and uterine)

If you or your family have one or more of these characteristics, ask your doctor about meeting with our genetic counselor at Saint Francis Genetics. Please use this form to help collect information about your family history prior to your appointment.

Make an Appointment with Saint Francis Genetics

For more information, or to make an appointment with our genetic counselor, please call 918-502-2280. We're dedicated to assisting you with insurance authorizations for appropriate testing.

Physician Referral to Saint Francis Genetics

Physicians may refer a patient for genetic counseling or genetic evaluation by logging into EPIC or by using our Genetic Referral form.