Taren Rourke,
Genetic Counselor
 |
 |
New England Hematology/Oncology and the Vernon Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have a coordinated genetic counseling and testing program for patients with an increased risk of hereditary cancers.
The Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Program was created for individuals and families who are concerned about their cancer risks due to a personal or family history of cancer. We offer comprehensive risk assessment of a patient’s medical and family history, genetic testing for inherited cancer syndromes if appropriate, and ways to manage and lower cancer risks based on genetic test results and/or family history analysis.
The majority of cancer cases are thought to be sporadic and due to a combination of environmental exposures, aging, and unknown factors. Family history, however, is important when determining increased risk for certain health conditions, including cancer. About 5-10% of cases of cancer are hereditary. A hereditary cancer means that there is an altered gene being passed down in a family that increases a person’s chance of developing certain types of cancer. Several genes have been discovered that are associated with inherited cancer syndromes.
Some features seen in families who have inherited cancers include:
- Younger ages of onset (often <50)
- Multiple generations in the family affected with the same cancer or related types of cancer (for example breast and ovarian or colon and uterine).
- An individual with multiple primary cancers
- Rare cancers present in the family (for example male breast cancer)
Finding an altered gene in the family allows your doctors to know what cancers you may be at increased risk for. Knowing this information, we can help tailor a screening and prevention program that would detect cancer at an early stage or prevent or lower the risk of cancer. If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, finding an altered gene may affect some of your treatment decisions. It also has important implications for your family members.
Counseling for certain conditions such as hereditary breast/ovarian cancer and hereditary melanoma/pancreatic cancer can be arranged in two ways:
- With our nurse practitioner Erin Maki who is trained in genetic risk assessment for these conditions. Appointments with Erin can be scheduled at 617-658-6000.
- With Newton-Wellesley Hospital's Vernon Cancer Center’s genetic counselor Taryn Rourke. Appointments with Taryn can be scheduled at 617-219-1230.
In addition, Taryn Rourke offers genetic counseling for any additional hereditary cancer conditions.
Genetic risk assessment or counseling visits involve a 30 to 60 minute conference where a detailed a family history will be taken. It is very helpful to bring all of your family history information to this visit – names of family members with and without cancers, ages of onset of cancers in family members and information about the types of cancers. Please download and print this Family History Questionnaire to fill out and bring with you to your next appointment.
Information about hereditary cancer syndromes will be discussed in detail and, if recommended by the counselor and desired by the patient, blood or saliva tests for genetic testing can be sent at the same visit.
For further information, please read Frequently Asked Questions about Hereditary Cancer Risk assessment and genetic testing.
Internet Links/Resources for Cancer Genetics
General Cancer Genetics Information
Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Colorectal Cancer
FORCE - Facing Our Risk of Cancer
