UAB St. Vincent’s offers genetic testing and counseling to help patients understand their risk of inherited cancer and guide treatment for patients who’ve been diagnosed. Our genetic counselors also can explain whether others in your family may be at risk.
Your first consultation, which can be done online or in person, includes a review of your family health history. We can then connect you and even your family with the most advanced genetic testing, if desired. The results of the testing can be used to make more informed decisions about a cancer diagnosis and treatment, and they also can help guide prevention strategies and lifestyle choices such as:
- More frequent health screenings
- Medications to lower cancer risk
- Health improvement plans
Genetic testing and biomarker tests
Some cancers can run in families, creating a hereditary cancer risk. If you have family members who have previously been diagnosed with cancer, talk to your doctor about genetic testing, genetic counseling, and health screenings.
We also offer biomarker tests, which look for genes, proteins, and other substances called biomarkers in cancerous tumors. Biomarker tests are ordered by your doctor (not a genetic counselor).
Genetic testing may benefit those diagnosed with one of the many types of cancer we treat, including:
- Brain and spine cancer
- Breast cancer
- Blood cancer and blood disorders
- Gastrointestinal (GI) and colon cancer
- Gynecologic cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Chest and lung cancer
- Prostate and male genital cancer
- Skin cancer
- Urologic cancer
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