Genetic counseling is a medical specialty that helps people make informed healthcare decisions by providing them with the information they need to understand how certain inherited conditions — such as higher risks for cancer — may affect them and/or their family members in the future.
In the highly acclaimed Tampa General Hospital’s Cancer Institute Cancer Genetics Program, a team including licensed, board-certified genetic counselors is available to help our patients:
- Review their personal and family cancer history in detail
- Learn about their hereditary risk of cancer
- Explore their genetic testing options
- Understand the implications of their genetic testing results
- Discuss options to manage their cancer risk
- Receive ongoing specialty genetics care to address evolving risks and recommendations
Through TGH’s Cancer Genetics Program, many patients benefit from cancer risk assessments, prevention strategies and education.
Who should consider genetic counseling and testing?
Anyone can potentially benefit from cancer genetic counseling. However, it may be especially helpful to you if you have active cancer, if you were diagnosed with cancer in the past or if you have family members who were diagnosed with cancer.
It is important to note that genetic counseling at TGH does not always lead to genetic testing, which may not be the right choice for everyone. However, if there are signs that cancer may run in your family, a genetic counselor at TGH may suggest genetic testing for you, particularly if:
- You or a close relative were diagnosed with cancer before age 50
- Several of your relatives developed the same or a similar type of cancer
- You or a family member has received multiple cancer diagnoses
- You or a family member has been diagnosed with a rare cancer, such as:
- Male breast cancer
- Adrenocortical carcinoma
- Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma
- You have been diagnosed with ovarian, pancreatic or high-risk prostate cancer
- Your family member had genetic testing that showed increased cancer risks
