Cancer Center

Genetic Counseling

The Stanford Cancer Genetics Program offers genetic individuals concerned about the risk of an inherited cancer predisposition with:

  • Genetic counseling
  • Genetic testing
  • Psychological support
  • Risk assessment and reduction
Services Available at These Locations (2)
Patient and Family Resource Guide
Make an appointment

Care and Treatment

Who Might Have a Genetic Cancer Predisposition?

The characteristics of genetic cancer families include an early age at diagnosis, bilateral tumors and multiple generations affected along the same family line.

Who should consider genetic counseling and genetic testing?

Breast cancer and ovarian cancer

You:

  • Diagnosed with a breast cancer before the age of 45
  • Diagnosed with a breast cancer before the age of 50 AND you have a family history of at least one family member with breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer
  • Diagnosed with a breast cancer at any age AND you have a family history of at least two family members on the same side of the family with breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer
  • Of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry diagnosed with a breast cancer at any age
  • Diagnosed with a triple negative breast cancer under the age of 60
  • Diagnosed with an ovarian cancer
  • Diagnosed with a breast cancer and a personal or family history of thyroid or uterine cancer
  • You are a man diagnosed with a breast cancer at any age

Family history (same side of family)

  • A relative with a known BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation or a mutation in a different gene (TP53, PTEN, ATM etc.)
  • Two relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger
    A relative with a male breast cancer

Colorectal cancer

You:

  • Diagnosed with colon or uterine (endometrial) cancer at age 50 or younger
  • Diagnosed with an ovarian cancer at any age
  • Diagnosed with either two colon cancer or both a colon and a uterine cancer at any age
  • Have 10 or more colon polyps
  • Diagnosed with a colon cancer that has a positive tumor screening (by IHC or MSI)

Family history (same side of family)

  • A relative with a known APC, MUTYH, or Lynch syndrome gene mutation
  • Two or more relatives with colon, uterine, ovarian or other gastrointestinal cancers, one at age 50 or younger
  • Three or more relatives with colon, uterine, ovarian or other gastrointestinal cancers at any age

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer

You:

  • Diagnosed with diffuse gastric cancer under age 50
  • Diagnosed with both gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer or signet ring cell gastric cancer

Family history (same side of the family)

  • Two or more relatives diagnosed with diffuse gastric cancer and/or lobular breast cancer, one of them under age 50
  • Three or more relatives diagnosed with diffuse gastric cancer and/or lobular breast cancer at any age

Other hereditary cancer syndromes

You:

  • Multiple primary tumors (particularly endocrine, sarcoma or brain) diagnosed under age 50
  • Diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer at any age
  • Diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma at any age

Family history (same side of family)

  • Relatives with cancer especially endocrine, sarcoma and brain, diagnosed before age 50

Pediatric cancer syndromes

Please contact our Medical Genetics colleagues at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital for information regarding pediatric cancer referrals.

For Patients

PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

Review the New Patient Packet for information about:

  • What to expect on the day of your appointment
  • Maps, directions, parking, public transit options, and contact information
  • Other patient resources

MEDICAL RELEASE

Please fax the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics). 

International Patients
Phone: +1 1-650-723-8561
Email: IMS@stanfordhealthcare.org

Call us to make an appointment

650-498-6000

DIRECTIONS

Genetic Counseling at Stanford Cancer Center Palo Alto
Genetic Counseling at Stanford Cancer Center South Bay

RESOURCES

Billing and insurance

Patient and Family Resource Guide

For Health Care Professionals

PHYSICIAN HELPLINE

Phone: 1-866-742-4811
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics) provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as provides the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions visit Referring Physicians.

HOW TO REFER

Fax a referral form with supporting documentation to 650-320-9443.

Track your patients' progress and communicate with Stanford providers securely online.

Learn More About PRISM »


Log in to prism
Make an Appointment

To request an appointment by phone, call:

Stanford Cancer Center Palo Alto
650-498-6000

Stanford Cancer Center South Bay
408-426-4900