Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Testing

Nearly 10 percent of cancers are attributed to hereditary cancer syndromes, genetic variants passed from one generation to the next that can cause higher risk of certain types of cancer. Knowing your risk can help you and your provider develop the best plan of action to monitor or even reduce your risk of developing cancer.

Take the free genetic cancer risk survey

The Adventist Health Early All-Around Detection (AHEAD) Program

If you are concerned about a personal or family history of cancer that may suggest a hereditary cancer syndrome, genetic testing can help determine the presence of inherited variants.

At Adventist Health Sonora, genetic testing services through the AHEAD Program are currently available to women at Sierra OB/GYN. To learn more about genetic testing, call us at (209) 536-3750.

What is genetic testing?

Genetic testing searches for specific changes in your genes and provides valuable information for use in customized medical management plans.

Are you a candidate for genetic testing?

If you have a personal or family history of cancer and meet any of the criteria below, we encourage you to consider genetic testing:

• Cancer that was diagnosed at a young age (under 50)
• Several different types of cancer that have occurred independently
• Several close blood relatives who have the same type of cancer
• Unusual cases for a specific cancer type (for example, breast cancer in a man and ovarian cancer at any age)
• Being a member of a racial/ethnic group that is known to have an increased risk of having a certain hereditary cancer syndrome

What cancers does genetic testing include?

Genetic testing is available for several types of cancer that are part of inherited cancer syndromes including:

• Breast
• Colorectal
• Endometrial
• Gastric
• Melanoma
• Ovarian
• Pancreatic
• Prostate

How is genetic testing done?

We will collect a saliva sample in the office and send the sample to a laboratory that specializes in genetic testing. It usually takes a few weeks to get the test results. Your provider will discuss the results, what this means to you and your family, and how it will impact your personalized medical management.

Our AHEAD Program team is with you every step of the way

Genetic testing can have several benefits. If you test positive, you have an experienced team ready to help you every step of the way with early detection and interventions that may include increased surveillance and effective treatment plans that will reduce your risk of cancer.