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

Indications for a Cancer Genetics Evaluation include:

Breast and Ovarian Cancer

• You or 2 close relatives had breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger.
  
  
• You or a close relative had bilateral breast cancer, first diagnosed at age 50 or younger.
  
  
• You and 2 close relatives had ovarian cancer and/or breast cancer.
  
  
• Any male who has had breast cancer or a close relative of a male who has had breast cancer.
  
  
• You are Ashenazi Jewish diagnosed with breast cancer when you were younger than age 50 OR have had ovarian cancer at any age.
  
  
• You have a close relative with an identified BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

Colorectal Cancer

• You had colon or uterine cancer diagnosed at age 45 or younger.
  
  
• You had 2 colon cancer or colon AND uterine cancer at any age.
  
  
• You have 2 close relatives with colon cancer; one diagnosed at 55 years old or younger.
  
  
• You have 3 close relatives with colorectal and/or uterine cancer at any age.
  
  
• You or a close relative have been clinically diagnosed with polyposis.

Other Cancer Syndromes

• You or your close relatives have a history of multiple primary tumors (particularly endocrine, bone or brain) at early ages.
  
  
• You have many relatives with cancers diagnosed at early ages (<50 years).