Preparing for Your Appointment with the Cancer Genetics Clinic

The more information you can bring to your appointment with a genetic counselor, the better we can determine the best course for you. There are many genes linked to cancer risk. Looking at the patterns in your personal history and your family history helps us figure out whether any genetic tests make sense and which ones will be most helpful.

Here's what you'll need:

• New Patient Paperwork for Cancer Genetics
• Medication and Allergy history form
• Relevant medical records, such as pathology reports, oncology notes, colonoscopy reports

We also ask that you quiz your family members, including siblings, children, parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents about the family medical history. Some questions that may help include:

• What relatives have had cancer?
• How old were they when diagnosed?
• Where did the cancer originate?
• Have there been any related pre-cancerous findings, such as colon polyps?
• How old are these family members now, or how old were they when they died?
• What country did your ancestors emigrate from?