© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
Northern Nevada Genetic Northern Nevada Genetic CounselingCounseling
Robbin PalmerRobbin Palmer
Certified Genetic CounselorCertified Genetic Counselor
www.genesrus.netwww.genesrus.net
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
Genes Contain the Instructions for Genes Contain the Instructions for Making ProteinsMaking Proteins
CellCell NucleusNucleus ChromosomesChromosomes
Adapted from Adapted from Understanding Gene TestingUnderstanding Gene Testing,,National Institutes of Health, 1996.National Institutes of Health, 1996.
GeneGene
DNA MoleculeDNA Molecule
RNA MoleculeRNA Molecule
ProteinProtein
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
AllAll Cancer is Genetic Cancer is Genetic
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
All Cancer is GeneticAll Cancer is Genetic
a normal cell undergoes a genetic a normal cell undergoes a genetic mutation and begins to grow mutation and begins to grow uncontrollablyuncontrollably
•Genetic Genetic HereditaryHereditary
•Hereditary Hereditary IS IS GeneticGenetic
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
Who Is at High Risk for Who Is at High Risk for Hereditary Cancer?Hereditary Cancer?
Hereditary cancers Hereditary cancers account for only a account for only a small proportion of small proportion of all cancerall cancer
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
5-10% of all cancer is hereditary5-10% of all cancer is hereditary
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
The Cancer Family History The Cancer Family History Is the Key to:Is the Key to:
Accurate risk Accurate risk assessmentassessment
Effective genetic Effective genetic counselingcounseling
Appropriate Appropriate medical follow-upmedical follow-up
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
REDRED FlagsFlags
Multiple family members with cancerMultiple family members with cancer
Multiple cancers in one individualMultiple cancers in one individual
Early age of onsetEarly age of onset
BilateralityBilaterality
Rare types of cancerRare types of cancer
AncestryAncestry
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
The more red flags, the higher the The more red flags, the higher the suspicion of hereditary cancer in a suspicion of hereditary cancer in a
family, but family history is the most family, but family history is the most important consideration. A red flag important consideration. A red flag
may be a red herringmay be a red herring
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
A mutation in a cancer susceptibility A mutation in a cancer susceptibility gene does not mean cancer is gene does not mean cancer is
inevitable.inevitable.
© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories© 2001 Myriad Genetic Laboratories
Knowledge Knowledge isis
PowerPower