High Risk Patients

Precision Medicine at Hoag

While everyone is at some risk of developing cancer, some people’s risk is above average due to their inherited genetics. About 5-10% of cancers are hereditary. Hereditary, or germline, mutations are changes in DNA that can be passed down from one generation to the next. There are a number of inherited mutations that can predispose a person or family to hereditary cancers such as breast, prostate, colon, pancreas, ovarian, and others. Hoag’s Hereditary Cancer Program provides risk assessment counseling and genetic testing to individuals with a family and personal history of cancer.

Through Hoag’s Center for Applied Genomic Technologies, patients who are at increased cancer risk based on their genetic makeup may be referred to Hoag’s Hereditary Cancer Program or Hoag’s Prevention, High Risk & Early Detection Network for further evaluation and management or a tailored screening plan designed to detect their cancer at the earliest possible stage or prevent it altogether. Patients with inherited cancer risk may benefit from enrollment in one or more of Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s high risk cancer programs.

Some patients who have cancer and have already had their tumor profiled may need additional testing to determine if their cancer was caused by a hereditary mutation. Results of hereditary genetic testing could reveal if they are at an increased risk of cancer recurrence or at risk for developing certain other cancers. Additional testing could also provide doctors with information about genetic changes and mutations in unsuspected genes that could aid them in selecting the most effective treatment.

Applied Genomics at Hoag

Hoag Family Cancer Institute continually works to provide the very best care for our patients. Hoag’s Center for Applied Genomic Technologies and its team of highly-regarded industry experts are a testament to that. No other hospital in Orange County provides this level of personalized cancer care.

Hoag’s Center for Applied Genomic Technologies team is here to support our oncology physicians and partners. If you are interested in access to this care, we encourage you to speak with your physician. If deemed appropriate, your oncologist, or referring physician, will work directly with Hoag’s Applied Genomics team to review your case and discuss next steps.