Specialized genetic services for cancer care
Board-certified genetic counselors at Ascension St. Vincent in Indiana provide customized genetic counseling and testing based on your personal and family history. Genetic information can help guide customized cancer screening and preventive strategies. It can also sometimes guide the decisions you and your doctor make about cancer treatment. Specialists at Ascension St. Vincent provide on-site care in Indianapolis and Evansville. Telehealth services are available at Ascension St. Vincent sites of care in Anderson and Kokomo. We also can also arrange a telehealth appointment using your personal device anywhere in the state of Indiana. Our goal is to connect you and your family to the latest genetic tests and genetic counseling.
Genetic testing and counseling for hereditary cancer syndromes
Some cancers can run in families. If you have family members who have or have previously been diagnosed with cancer, talk to your doctor to see if you should be referred to a genetic specialist to help determine if you should have hereditary cancer testing or more frequent cancer screening based on your family history. Oncologists and genetic specialists at Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Care in Indiana diagnose and treat many types of cancers that may be hereditary, including:
- Breast cancer in women and men
- Endometrial cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Factors that may be a sign of a hereditary cancer include:
- Young age of onset (especially <50)
- More than one type of cancer in a single individual
- Cancer present in multiple generations of a family
Learn more about genetic testing for other hereditary cancer syndromes.
Your doctor may recommend hereditary genetic testing using blood or saliva or from a skin DNA test. Hereditary cancer testing should include a discussion with a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about hereditary cancer testing, such as a board-certified genetic counselor or an advanced practice provider with certification in genetics. At Ascension St. Vincent sites of care, these types of consultations can take place either in person or through a virtual visit (telehealth).
Our genetics providers review the risks, benefits and limitations of genetic testing with you. They also explain the options for genetic testing and the possible test results. Many of these tests require pre-approval from your health insurance, which we will help with. After testing, genetics providers explain genetic test results in plain language and discuss the possible impact on treatment, recommended screening guidelines and the possible impact on family members. When needed, we connect the dots to advanced care and treatment.
Learn more about Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Genetics Risk Assessment Program, genes associated with different cancers, financial assistance and support services.
Contact us
Indianapolis - 317-338-7475
Anderson – 765-646-8358
Evansville – 812-469-8121
Kokomo – 765-456-5687
