Ovarian Cancer

Familial Cancer Program

The Familial Cancer Program includes two components: clinical services and research.

The clinical service helps to identify patients at an increased risk for cancer due to hereditary factors and to help patients understand their level of risk. For those who have been diagnosed with cancer, the risk of a second cancer and risks for other family members may be addressed. Education and counseling about cancer risk, cancer risk reduction, effective screening and prevention methods are key aspects of the program.

The research component provides the opportunity for interested patients to participate in research studies that may help advance the scientific community's understanding of cancer. Topics such as cancer risk factors (both genetic and nongenetic) and the impact of changing lifestyle factors such as exercise or smoking on cancer risk are being studied. Understanding how these factors influence cancer may ultimately lead to new approaches in management, and perhaps even prevention, of hereditary cancers.

Individuals who have any of the following characteristics may benefit from participation in the Familial Cancer Program:

• Personal history of ovarian cancer diagnosed before age 50, and/or multiple primary cancers
• One or more first-degree (parent, brother/sister, child) or second-degree relatives (aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent) diagnosed with cancer at or before age 50
• Two or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with cancer at any age
• One or more first- or second-degree relatives with two primary cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer
• Multiple relatives with the same type of cancer (e.g., ovarian)