What Risks Does Genetic Screening Assess?
- Breast
- Colorectal
- Endocrine
- Endometrial
- Gastric
- Lung
- Melanoma
- Ovarian
- Pancreatic
- Prostate
- Renal
- Service Item
- Skin
What Patients Qualify For Genetic Screening?
Any patient can be referred for genetic screening, but it’s especially important to screen patients with:
- Personal history of:
- Breast cancer at any age
- Colon, rectal or uterine cancer at 64 or younger
- Metastatic prostate cancer at any age
- Ovarian cancer at any age
- Pancreatic cancer at any age
- Family history of:
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry with breast cancer at any age
- Breast cancer at 49 or younger
- Genetic mutation found in a family member
- Male breast cancer at any age
- Metastatic prostate cancer at any age (1st degree relative)
- Ovarian cancer at any age
- Pancreatic cancer at any age (1st degree relative)
- Three or more breast cancers in relatives on the same side of the family at any age
- Three or more colon, rectal and/or uterine cancers on the same side of the family at any age
- Two breast cancers in one relative at any age
Is Genetic Screening Effective?
Genetic screening can help patients better understand their risk of developing cancer and to prevent or catch hereditary cancers at the earliest stages, when the chances of survival are highest. Knowing you may have a tendency to develop a cancer can help direct appropriate medical management and make informed life decisions.
At Baptist Health, 60 percent of patients tested required a change in their medical management recommendations. More than half of the patients tested were either positive for a genetic mutation or were considered a high-risk negative.
To prevent and identify cancer early, patients who are at an increased risk may opt to consult with specialists, have preventive surgeries such as a prophylactic mastectomy, discuss risk-reducing medication and lifestyle changes and/or plan to have increased surveillance such as annual breast MRIs. Genetic testing results help ensure coverage for additional interventions.
How Does Testing Work?
If a patient chooses to proceed with genetic testing, a saliva or blood sample is collected on the same day as their breast imaging appointment. Our radiologists will then have the sample sent to Myriad Genetics, our lab partner, for testing and will indicate on the breast imaging report that genetic testing is underway. This keeps referring physicians apprised of their patient’s care plan. Results should be available within four weeks.
What Happens After The Sample Is Tested?
Results are delivered to patients via a telehealth or in-person appointment with one of our certified genetic specialists.
If the results show the presence of a genetic mutation that increases the risk of cancer, our specialists will assist in identifying appropriate medical management strategies. Results and treatment recommendations are shared with referring physicians and, if necessary, additional testing and treatment options are available through Baptist Health Cancer Care.
Meet the Team
Our team includes:
- Darlene Dacosta, MD
- Louise Morrell, MD
- Kathy Schilling, MD
- Ana Galvan PA
- Dawn Blackshear, APRN
- Jessica McAfee, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC
Frequently Asked Questions
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Genetic counselors are board-certified specialists who can assist in providing you and your family with information in the decision to get genetic testing. Genetic counseling can help you understand what your results might mean, your risk of developing cancer, and the options available to you.
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Patients pay nothing out of pocket to have a sample collected, and many private health insurance plans will cover the cost of genetic testing for patients with a strong personal and/or history of cancer. Our lab partner, Myriad Genetics, has options available for uninsured patients or those with insurance that doesn’t cover genetic testing.
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La HIPEC se administra al momento de la cirugía para extirpar tumores en el abdomen. El tratamiento solamente es eficaz si no hay ningún tumor en el abdomen, por lo que los médicos deciden durante la operación quirúrgica si un paciente recibirá el tratamiento de la HIPEC o no.
Durante la HIPEC, se insertan catéteres (tubos delgados y flexibles) en el abdomen y se bombean agentes quimioterápicos a través de ellos para hacer una especie de “lavado” de quimioterapia. Los agentes quimioterápicos se calientan a poco más de 100 °F. Se ha demostrado que esta técnica, también llamada “quimioterapia caliente”, es más eficaz para destruir las células cancerosas.
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En muchos tratamientos oncológicos es necesario que los pacientes esperen de cuatro a seis semanas después de la cirugía para empezar el tratamiento de quimioterapia. Con la HIPEC, los agentes quimioterápicos pueden empezar a destruir las células cancerosas mucho antes, lo que se ha demostrado que conduce a mejores resultados.
Esta técnica además puede administrar una dosis alta de quimioterapia caliente directamente en el tejido donde normalmente el cáncer prolifera o se disemina. El tratamiento no tiene que combatir los tumores existentes para penetrar los tejidos y los agentes calientes tienen más probabilidades de atacar las células cancerosas.
A diferencia del tratamiento de quimioterapia tradicional, que pasa por el hígado o los riñones hasta llegar al abdomen, la HIPEC evita que otros órganos queden expuestos a los efectos secundarios nocivos.
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En muchos tratamientos oncológicos es necesario que los pacientes esperen de cuatro a seis semanas después de la cirugía para empezar el tratamiento de quimioterapia. Con la HIPEC, los agentes quimioterápicos pueden empezar a destruir las células cancerosas mucho antes, lo que se ha demostrado que conduce a mejores resultados.
Esta técnica además puede administrar una dosis alta de quimioterapia caliente directamente en el tejido donde normalmente el cáncer prolifera o se disemina. El tratamiento no tiene que combatir los tumores existentes para penetrar los tejidos y los agentes calientes tienen más probabilidades de atacar las células cancerosas.
A diferencia del tratamiento de quimioterapia tradicional, que pasa por el hígado o los riñones hasta llegar al abdomen, la HIPEC evita que otros órganos queden expuestos a los efectos secundarios nocivos.