Genetic Counseling and Testing

Understanding your risk factors for cancer allows you to make the most informed decisions about your healthcare. Through genetic counseling, you can learn the types of cancer you may be at risk for developing. Genetic testing provides information about your risk factors for specific hereditary types of cancer, which include:

• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Uterine cancer

Genetic counselors at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, are board-certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. They follow the gold-standard guidelines set by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Your genetic counseling visit

It’s important to visit with a genetic counselor before you have any genetic tests. You can bring immediate family members with you to ask questions and take notes. At your free counseling session, your counselor will:

• Review up to 3 generations of your family history
• Discuss your and your children’s risk factors for cancer
• Explain your rights under laws such as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
• Discuss the pros and cons of genetic testing
• Help you navigate through insurance

Informed consent for testing

Genetic testing is your choice and yours alone. Informed consent means knowing as much as possible before you take that step. We make sure you are aware of and approve all the genes we are testing for you. We also discuss what it means for you and your children if you have a positive test result.

What genetic testing can reveal

Testing can help find genetic changes that can increase your risk for cancer. Read more.

Resources

• Genetic counseling for cancer risk
• Hereditary cancer checklist
• Family cancer history chart 

Make an appointment

To make a genetic counseling appointment, call 913-588-5568.