The Hereditary Cancer Program at Jefferson is dedicated to identifying and managing individuals with a known or suspected inherited predisposition to cancer. Up to 20% of all cases of cancer have a familial component, and approximately 5 - 10% of all cancer may be due to an inherited risk.

The goal of the Hereditary Cancer Program at Jefferson is to provide individuals with information and guidelines based on their family history and/or genetic test results that will assist them and their families in the prevention of cancer occurrence and in the early detection of cancer. The Jefferson Hereditary Cancer Center takes a multidisciplinary approach to cancer risk evaluation and is one of few centers that offer cancer risk counseling for any type of cancer, including pediatric cancers.

The program is staffed by a multidisciplinary team directed by Bruce M. Boman, MD, PhD, an oncologist, and includes genetic counselors, oncology nurses, surgeons, molecular geneticists, a clinical geneticist and others.

Family history is the primary indicator of an inherited risk for cancer. The Hereditary Cancer Program at Jefferson's staff evaluates a person's family history and develops a written risk assessment and a cancer screening program for each individual and their at-risk family members. A comprehensive evaluation includes:

• Obtaining and evaluating a detailed family medical history, as well as an individual's own medical, surgical, cancer screening and environmental exposure history
• Discussion of the inherited nature of cancer, as well as other risk factors such as environment, lifestyle and diet
• Risk assessment
• Genetic counseling
• Physical examination
• Recommending cancer screening guidelines and discussion of chemotherapeutic or surgical interventions, if indicated
• Recommending, ordering and explaining results of appropriate genetic testing
• Referral to resources for follow-up care and support
• Written summary of the evaluation for the individual and their referring provider

Evaluation with the Hereditary Cancer Program at Jefferson is available to any individual who is concerned about a family history of cancer or a personal history of early-onset cancer. This includes all Jefferson patients, individuals referred by outside physicians and those who are self-referred. In some cases, individuals are reassured to find that their family history does not significantly increase their risk for a particular type or types of cancer above that of the general population. In other cases, where there is an increased risk or an inherited risk, the Hereditary Cancer Program at Jefferson can provide information and guidelines that will assist them and their families in the prevention and early detection of cancer.

Hereditary Cancer Program at Jefferson on the Kimmel Cancer Center web site