Prevention, Risk and Screening »Learn Your Cancer Risk

With medical and genetic discoveries, cancer is being diagnosed earlier and earlier. Now, individuals and families are finding out if they have a higher chance to get cancer before cancer occurs. This new area is called cancer risk assessment.

Scientists have found that certain factors in life can increase the chance for cancer. Some risk factors are habits or lifestyle, the environment we live in, medical conditions and having cancer in the family. Doctors, nurses, and genetic counselors at Fox Chase Cancer Center can measure these factors to find out who is at risk for cancer. Some people have genetic testing to see if they are at risk for a “hereditary cancer”, a cancer that is passed on in the family. Everyone’s risk is not the same. Meeting with experts in cancer risk assessment is the best way to learn about your cancer risk.
Learn more about cancer risk assessment at Fox Chase Cancer Center

What you can learn about your cancer risk

Learning about your cancer risk is important. If you discover your risk for developing cancer is higher than average, we can help you find ways to lower your risk. Taking part in cancer risk assessment helps individuals and families to learn:

• Your own risk factors for cancer
• How great your risk is to get cancer
• Whether or not you have hereditary cancer in your family, that is cancer that runs in the family
• Who benefits from genetic testing; looking for inherited mutations that can influence the development of cancer
• Other family members who may be at risk
• What you can do to lower your cancer risk
• Whether you should have more screening for cancer or start screening earlier.
• Whether taking medication to prevent cancer is right for you

Who Benefits From Genetic Testing

Individuals or families may benefit from genetic testing if they have one or more of the following:

• A personal or family history of cancer such as breast, ovarian, colon, gastrointestinal, melanoma, pancreatic, prostate, other gynecologic cancers or multiple colon polyps.
• Cancer in the family that occurred under 50 years of age
• A family member who had 2 or more different types of cancer
• A rare cancer in the family, for example sarcoma
• A family member who already had genetic testing and was found to have a genetic mutation.
• Any one of the above risk factors and have Jewish ancestry.