Cancer Genetics Screening Program

Protect Your Health With Genetic Testing

As a part of our mission to provide convenient, comprehensive, and quality cancer care, the Lipson Cancer Institute provides individualized hereditary cancer risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing services to individuals and families who are at an increased risk for cancer. Identifying these at-risk individuals and groups allows us to perform personalized medical interventions that foster early cancer detection, prevention, and improved quality of life for our patients and their families.

Call our team today at 585-922-6DNA

What is Genetic Testing?

Advances in cancer genetics in the last twenty years have given patients and their healthcare providers the opportunity to determine the increased likelihood of certain cancers. New genetic discoveries are influencing our understanding of cancer development, diagnosis, and treatment.

Genetic testing looks closely at your DNA to identify changes (mutations) you may have inherited that can be associated with genetic disorders, including cancer. Inherited gene mutations make up about 10% of all cancers–the most common being breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, melanoma, and pancreatic cancers.

Knowing if you or your family members are at a higher risk for cancers enables you and your physician to better prevent, detect, and come up with appropriate treatment strategies.

Who Should Receive Genetic Testing and Counseling?

Genetic counseling and testing may be helpful if you have:

A personal or family history of cancer at an early age (typically 50 or younger)
A personal or family history of a genetic mutation that increases your risk of cancer
More than one blood relative with the same type of cancer
A blood relative who had more than one type of cancer

Deciding whether to have genetic testing is a personal choice that can be made during your initial counseling session or at a future date. Genetic counseling does not require genetic testing–individuals who receive genetic counseling may decide that testing is not right for them.

Should You Receive Genetic Testing?

If your family history indicates you may be at a higher risk of cancer, genetic testing can help prepare you and your loved ones for the next steps.

Take the Quiz

The Genetic Screening Process

The goal of the Cancer Genetics Screening Program is to identify individuals and families at higher risk for cancer to better assist with prevention, early detection, and optimal treatment of cancer. Our experienced and compassionate providers will guide you through each stage of the genetic screening process.

Your provider will go over the risks, limitations, and benefits of genetic testing, and help you decide whether or not it is right for you. Genetic tests are performed by taking a blood, saliva, or tissue sample to look for genetic mutations that may lead to an increased risk for cancer.

If your provider recommends genetic testing and you decide to proceed, our providers will coordinate your testing through certified laboratories and provide collaboration with oncologists and other specialists with our health system, as needed. During a post-test counseling session, we will talk through your genetic test results and cover the implications, your medical management options (if necessary), and family member relevance.
Whether your cancer test results confirm a gene mutation or not, our providers will talk with you about ways to reduce your cancer risk. We may cover cancer screening strategies, preventative procedure options, and lifestyle modifications. We may also refer you to a high-risk screening clinic for further conversation and long-term cancer screening and monitoring. Rest assured–you are in the best possible hands.
Clinical trials are cancer research studies that can help make important breakthroughs and discoveries in cancer care. If you are found to have certain high-risk gene mutations, you may have the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial. Our team offers up-to-date information on cancer-related research opportunities available at Lipson Cancer Institute and our clinical research affiliate, Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

To learn more about our Cancer Genetic Screening process, or to schedule an appointment, please call (585) 922-6362.

Our Featured Experts

At the Lipson Cancer Institute, our clinical team of specialized physicians and advanced practice providers devote their expertise in cancer genetics to identifying, testing, counseling, and providing personalized medical management options to high-risk individuals. If you are looking for a cancer team that will be by your side every step of the way, look no further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your physician may recommend genetic counseling because of your personal or family history of cancer. If you are interested in having a personalized cancer risk assessment and/or genetic testing, it is recommended you first undergo genetic counseling to better understand the benefits, risks, and limitations. Our providers will also discuss the cost, insurance coverage, and any concerns about genetic discrimination.
Most insurance plans cover the cost if you meet high risk criteria. Your provider will help you determine if you are a good candidate for testing, and if you meet your insurance's criteria for testing.

If you decide to pursue testing, your sample, personal and family history, and insurance information is sent to the testing laboratory so they can complete an insurance benefits investigation. They will then contact you to let you know your expected out-of-pocket costs, if any, and give you the opportunity to cancel your testing, if you'd like. We also have financial assistance options available.
We will order either blood draw or saliva sample genetic tests. The laboratory extracts your genes–which are made up of DNA–from your sample and analyzes them. They can come back one of three ways:
- Positive: A change (mutation) has been found in one or more of your genes that we know is associated with an increased risk for cancer. While no genetic test can determine if you will develop cancer for certain, it can tell you if you have a higher risk than most people. In this case, we will discuss what this means for you and what screening and prevention strategies are available and recommended.
- Negative: We did not find any changes or mutations that could cause cancer in any of the genes that were included in the testing panel. You may still be at an increased risk based on other personal or family history features, or have a general population risk for cancer. Appropriate screenings and medical management are still recommended.
- Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS): A genetic change, or "variant," has been found, but we do not have enough information to determine whether the gene is normal (benign) or pathogenic (disease-causing). Keep in touch with your genetic counselor, and they will keep you updated as more information becomes available about the genetic variant.
Yes, your genetic test results and your medical record will be kept private and confidential. When you registered at Rochester Regional Health, you were given a Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains who has access to your medical record and what reasons they have to access it. If you would like to know more about our privacy practices, or if you would like another copy of the privacy notice, please let us know.