Ovarian Cancer

Familial Cancer Program

The Familial Cancer Program focuses on clinical services and research.

The clinical service identifies women at higher risk for cancer due to hereditary factors and helps them understand their level of risk. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, the program addresses the risk of a second cancer and risks for other family members. Key aspects of the program include education and counseling about cancer risk, cancer risk reduction, effective screening and cancer prevention strategies.

The research component provides an opportunity for you to participate in studies that may help scientists better understand cancer. Studies focus on topics such as cancer risk factors and the impact of changing habits such as exercise or smoking on cancer risk. Understanding how these factors influence cancer may lead to new approaches in treatment, and perhaps prevention, of hereditary cancers.

If you have any of the following characteristics, you 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 (aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent) relatives 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)