Genetic services enhance our cancer care options
When you or a loved one faces a cancer diagnosis, you may wonder if the cancer is an inherited one, and if others in your family could be at risk for the same or similar cancer. Knowing this information can help guide care plan decisions, including increased cancer screening, considering medications to low cancer risk, and preventive strategies. It can also sometimes guide decisions you and your doctor make about cancer treatment. Your doctor and care teams at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas, can connect you and your family to our Cancer Outreach and Risk Assessment (CORA) program for cancer risk assessment and the latest genetic tests and genetic counseling. Our experienced cancer doctors and genetic nurse specialists are part of a national team, sharing best practices and the latest in genomic medicine – bringing the best of cancer care to you. Every appointment with your doctor starts with a compassionate conversation. If gene testing is part of your care plan, we’ll connect you with a genetic specialist who will evaluate your family health history and answer your questions – big and small.
Your care team at Ascension Via Christi explains the risks of inherited cancer and how genetic testing can be a useful part of your care plan, as well as the impact on care for family members.
Cancer Outreach and Risk Assessment (CORA) program focuses on cancer risk
Our CORA care team at Ascension Via Christi focuses on cancer risk assessment, genetic testing and counseling, and cancer screening. Your team will include a board-certified genetics and oncology specialist, oncology-certified nurse navigators and patient advocates. If needed, your genetic tests use blood cells or cells from the inside of your cheeks that will be evaluated for specific genes. Your results are sent to our CORA program coordinator to discuss with you. Working together, we also communicate with your primary care doctor and cancer specialists to deliver compassionate, personalized care for your needs.
Genetic testing for hereditary cancers close to home
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 determine if more frequent cancer screening based on your family history may be right for you. In Kansas, a referral is not needed to make an appointment with a genetic specialist for genetic testing. Cancers that are caused by inherited genes are called hereditary cancer syndromes. Oncologists and genetic specialists at Ascension Via Christi diagnose and treat many types of cancers that may be hereditary, including:
- Breast cancer in women and men, caused by abnormalities in the BRCA gene family
- Melanoma (skin cancer)
- Ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and other gynecologic cancers
- Gastrointestinal cancers, including polyposis syndromes and pancreatic cancer
Genetic testing is available for many other genetic syndromes, including (but not limited to):
- Cowden syndrome (PTEN gene mutation is linked to multiple noncancerous tumors and breast, thyroid and uterine cancer.)
- Hereditary leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (dysfunctional blood cells that can cause anemia and other blood cancers) When a person has leukemia or another blood cancer, this type of testing needs to be done on a skin biopsy.
- Gardner’s syndrome and attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) affects the colon and intestinal tract.
- Lynch syndrome – The most common GI hereditary cancer is Lynch syndrome caused by a mutation in one of several different genes (i.e., MLH1, MSH1, MSH6, PMS2, or EpCAM). These genes are associated with an increased risk for colon and gastric cancers, gynecologic cancer (endometrial and ovarian), and other cancers. Often, a colon tumor is screened for the possibility of Lynch syndrome at the time it is biopsied or removed. Other rare genes that can increase the risk for colon cancer include STK11, BMPR1A, SMAD4, POLB, and POLD1. Muir Torre syndrome (associated with skin tumors)
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) (TP53 gene mutation is associated with an increased risk for developing several types of cancer.)
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome (MENS1 and MENS2 is linked to neuroendocrine tumors in the pancreas, parathyroid, pituitary or thyroid glands.)
- Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL gene mutation is linked to an increased risk for benign blood vessel tumors of the brain, spine, retina, as well as renal cell cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and pheochromocytoma.)
Benefits of having your genetic tests at Ascension Via Christi cancer care
Your doctor may recommend genetic tests based on a blood or saliva sample, or from a skin DNA test. Your care team coordinates lab tests for you. Many of these tests require preapproval from your health insurance. And 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 a certification in genetics. Consultations can take place either in person or through a virtual visit (telehealth). At Ascension Via Christi cancer centers, our oncology-certified nurse navigators help coordinate in-office and virtual consultations.
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. After testing, genetic 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.
Tumor genetic testing
If you are diagnosed and being treated for cancer, your doctor may recommend another type of test called a biomarker test to look for genes, proteins, and other substances called biomarkers in the tumor. This information can help your oncologist deliver targeted treatments for your type of cancer. This type of testing is ordered by your doctor (not the genetic counselor) and is usually done on a tumor sample. Biomarker tests can also help your specialist identify advanced cancer treatments and clinical trials that may support your care plan.
Financial assistance and support is available
Genetic counseling is covered by many insurance plans, including Medicaid in most states and Medicare, when certain criteria are met. We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs.
Your genetic provider will evaluate your personal and family history to see if you meet the criteria set up by your insurer. For those who do not meet the criteria, or with no coverage for genetic testing, there are low-cost and self-pay options. For those who do not have insurance coverage, some laboratories provide financial assistance to cover most or all of the cost.
Locations
Talk to your doctor if you have health concerns and known risk factors for cancer. And ask your doctor what screenings are right for you. including:
- Low-dose CT lung scan, a lung cancer screening, call 316-268-5890
- Mammography, breast cancer screening, online scheduling
The Ascension Via Christi CORA program helps increase awareness of cancer risk factors and screening options. Ascension Via Christi Therapy Center on Seth Child, in Manhattan, Kansas, provides CORA program services and rehabilitation therapies to support your care plan. Other CORA program and genetic testing locations include: