By
Sally Owen
Your father’s blue
eyes. Your mother’s curly hair. Your
grandmother’s
cancer?
Many people don’t realize that
some cancers – breast, ovarian and
colorectal, in particular – are hereditary due to a damaged gene passed
from parent to child. Now at Southeast Missouri Hospital’s Regional
Cancer Center, individuals with a strong cancer history can receive cancer
risk assessment
and counseling, education and, if appropriate, genetic testing at the region’s
first Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment clinic.
Offered in cooperation
with Myriad Co., the clinic is located in the
Regional Cancer Center and may be accessed
by physician referral. Southeast cancer nurse
specialist
Sandy Mattox, RN, MSNc, explains that cancer
risk assessment can determine a "family
pedigree" that shows whether or not an individual
is at significant risk for developing cancer.
The process begins, she says, "with homework
that includes talking with relatives about your
extended family’s cancer history." |
Southeast
Missouri Hospital cancer nurse specialist Sandy
Mattox, RN, MSNc, fills out her family medical
history in preparation for cancer risk screening. "I
have a strong history of colon cancer in my family,
and I’ll be more comfortable knowing if I’m
at a greatly increased risk," she says. "One
thing’s for sure – going through the
testing will probably mean that I’ll eat
more sensibly and have regular colonoscopies."
Did
you know?
Everyone is born with two copies
of about 30,000 different genes. One copy of
each gene comes from your mother, the other from
your father. |
At
the clinic, Mattox works with patients
to gather and analyze their personal medical,
lifestyle and family history. She also
helps patients determine if their histories
suggest an inherited form of cancer and
discusses with them options for cancer
screening and prevention. If it is determined
that an individual’s history is suggestive
of inheriting cancer, the option of sending
a blood sample to the Myriad lab for an
in-depth genetic analysis, (Polymerase
Chain Reaction that can distinguish, evaluate
and create any specific piece of DNA) is
discussed.
Results of the in-depth
genetic analysis are shared with the patient’s
physician, and the two then discuss the
best way to manage cancer risk through
avenues that include increased screening,
preventive drug therapy and reducing factors
that may contribute to that risk. "A
positive test indicates that a person has
a greatly increased risk of developing
cancer, but it does not mean cancer is
certain to occur," Mattox emphasizes. "A
positive test means that you need to be
more vigilant."
Learn more about Southeast’s
Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment by calling
(573) 651-5550.
" The
clinic is a great thing for the region. It’s
certainly appropriate for women who have
a strong family history of breast cancer.
In fact, there are families that have such
a high risk it’s almost imperative
that they have genetic counseling. I see
women in my office every day whose mother,
grandmother, sister or aunt had breast cancer
and are scared to death they’re going
to get it. With careful genetic counseling
we can put those women at ease or use the
tools we have available to help them if they
do test positive."
--Robert S.
Hunt, M.D.
Cape Girardeau Surgical Clinic at the Breast Care Center |
|
