Close

Cancer Genetics Program

Helping families assess and manage their cancer risk
Cancer Institute Provider
Find A Provider
Have Questions?
Contact Our Cancer Genetics Program 404-851-6284
[email protected]

With recent advancements in technology and increasing attention from the media, much has been in the news about genetic testing for cancer risk. Although the genes a person is born with may contribute to their risk of developing certain types of cancer, only about 5-10 percent of all cancers are genetic. These cancers are caused by a broken or mutated gene that is passed down in families from one generation to the next.

Genetic counselors at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute (NHCI) Cancer Genetics Program are specially trained experts that work with patients who are concerned about their family history of cancer and are considering genetic testing.

Genetics and Cancer

Cancer is usually caused by gene mutations that occur randomly in one or a few cells of the body. Such gene changes, called somatic mutations, may arise as a natural consequence of aging or when a cell’s DNA has been damaged. Acquired mutations are only present in some of the body’s cells, and they are not passed on from parents to their children.

However, in a small percentage of people with cancer, the disease is due to a different type of mutation called a hereditary mutation, or germline mutation. These mutations are usually inherited from one or both of the person’s parents, and are present in nearly every cell of the body. Because hereditary mutations are present in the DNA of sperm and egg cells, they can be passed down in families.

People who carry such hereditary mutations do not necessarily get cancer, but their risk of developing the disease at some point during their lifetime is higher than average.

In recent years, scientists have discovered a number of mutations that can contribute to a person’s risk of developing certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, colorectal and prostate cancer, as well as some other, less common cancer types.

Genetic Counseling and Testing

Genetic counseling occurs before genetic testing is considered. Meeting with a genetic counselor does not always mean a person is ready to have testing. Some people come in for an evaluation to learn about their options and to understand the implications of testing for themselves and their families. Our genetic counselors also help individuals understand how genetic testing might impact their family members since one genetic test has the potential to provide risk information for many family members at once.

Genetic testing is always most beneficial when it begins with the individual in a family who has or has had cancer. However, in some cases testing can also be done in someone without cancer because of the history in their close relatives.

Genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk can be valuable for several reasons.

  • It can help to determine if a cancer patient is at an increased risk of developing a second cancer in another part of the body
  • Each child of a parent with a gene mutation has a 50/50 chance for inheriting the altered genes.
  • Knowing about an inherited risk can help determine a person and their family's risk for developing other cancers and assist their doctor in recommending appropriate cancer screening measures.

To speak with a genetic counselor or Cancer Genetics Program staff member, please call us at 404-851-6284 or email [email protected].

Initial Visit

During an initial visit with a genetic counselor, patients receive an in-depth consultation to examine their personal and family history. Our staff will draw a detailed family tree, or pedigree. The goal of this visit is to understand how cancer develops, and how we assess the patient‘s (and their family members’) risk for different types of cancer. A genetic counselor will provide extensive information regarding genetic testing and will review different testing options and potential results. The counselor will also discuss the cost of testing, insurance coverage and legal protections from genetic discrimination, as well as the implications of both positive and negative test results. The counselor will a patient and their family may have about genetic testing.

When you come for a consult with one of NHCI’s certified genetic counselors, it helps to come prepared. Helpful information to know before your appointment:

  • Who in your family has been diagnosed with cancer?
  • Where did the cancer start? What type? Was it present in more than one place in the body?
  • What age was the family member diagnosed with cancer?
  • Has anyone in your family undergone genetic testing?

If a patient decides to proceed with a genetic testing, our staff will coordinate the testing process including the sample draw (most likely a simple saliva sample) and insurance coverage.

Follow-Up Visit

Patients are seen in-person for their results. During the follow-up visit, the genetic counselor will review the results to help patients understand the implications themselves and their family. The counselor will also review preventive and treatment options that may help families reduce their risk of cancer based on their test results. Even when a person tests negative for genetic mutations, they still may have a higher than average risk of cancer due to family history and some increased screening options may be available to them. All of that is reviewed during a results session with doctors and other specialists to ensure that they receive the testing results and that all of the patient’s questions are answered.

Patients who wish to begin collecting their family history information might find the following tool to be helpful: My Family Health Portrait - A tool from the Surgeon.

Insurance Coverage for Genetic Counseling and Testing

Most insurance companies will cover the cost of both genetic counseling and genetic testing. When patients call to make their initial appointments, we provide detailed information on how to determine coverage for their visit so they feel comfortable making an appointment.

Some people worry that their insurance company may discriminate because of a genetic test result; however, there have been very few documented cases of insurance discrimination and there are both State and Federal laws in place to protect individuals from such discrimination.

What Types of Cancers Are Hereditary?

Patients with a personal or family history of the following types of cancer are most often considered for a genetics evaluation:

It is important to remember that only about 5-10 percent of cancers are inherited so most often any of these diagnoses above are not due to an inherited risk.

Meet Our Cancer Genetics Team

Jazmine Vaz Baker, MS photo
Jazmine Vaz-Baker, MS
Jessica Davidson, MS, CGC photo
Jessica Davidson, MS, CGC
Dillon Davis, MS, CGC
Dillon Davis, MS, CGC
Tim Hakim, MS, CGC photo
Tim Hakim, MS, CGC
Summer Hoppenbrouwer, MS, CGC photo
Summer Hoppenbrouwer, MS, CGC
Natalie Murphy, MS, CGC photo
Natalie Murphy, MS, CGC
Bonnie Poteet, MS, CGC photo
Bonnie Poteet, MS, CGC
Eric Traub, MS, CGC photo
Eric Traub, MS, CGC
Alexandra Wallgren, MS, CGC photo
Alexandra Wallgren, MS, CGC

Patient Story

How Genetic Testing Prompted This Patient's Doctors to Act Early and Save Her Life


Our Locations

The Cancer Genetics Program has multiple locations available for patients to meet with our genetic counselors. Our goal is to bring genetics services to patients living throughout Georgia, especially those in geographic areas with limited cancer genetic service available. In addition to in-person consults, we offer telegenetics consults at multiple medical oncology locations across Georgia

To speak with a genetic counselor or Cancer Genetics Program staff member, please call us at 404-851-6284 or email [email protected].

To schedule an appointment with a genetic counselor call 404-851-6284. Click on links below for detailed address information and directions.

Locations

Showing 5 results
NHCI Cancer Genetics Program - Alpharetta
3400 Old Milton Parkway
Building C, Patient Check-in Suite #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
404-851-6284 Get Directions Cancer Services
NHCI Cancer Genetics Program - Atlanta
1100 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Building 2, Suite 350
Atlanta, GA 30342
404-851-6284 Get Directions Cancer Services
NHCI Cancer Genetics Program - Cherokee
460 Northside Cherokee Blvd
Suite T10
Canton, GA 30115
770-721-9000 Get Directions Cancer Services
NHCI Cancer Genetics Program - Forsyth
1505 Northside Blvd
Suite 3800
Cumming, GA 30041
770-292-7000 Get Directions Cancer Services
NHCI Cancer Genetics Program - Gwinnett
631 Professional Drive
Suite 210
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
678-312-3100 Get Directions Cancer Services