THE
best health care focuses on the
individual needs and characteristics
of the patient. And since everyone is
unique, effective health care must take
into account a wide variety of factors to
produce the best results.
That’s why Aspirus Wausau Hospital
is using genetic screening and genetic
counseling for people diagnosed with
cancer. Genetics is the study of heredity,
of certain genes passed down from
parents to their children. A person’s
appearance—height, hair color, skin
color and eye color—are determined by
genes. Certain birth defects and diseases
such as cancer also can be determined by
genes.
At Aspirus Wausau Hospital, genetic
screening and genetic counseling can
provide the following benefits to people
diagnosed with cancer:
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Genetic screening can uncover
information that can help guide the
treatment plan.
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Results can discover additional health
risks.
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Family members might be at risk.
Treatment
Screening can provide insight into
the effectiveness of certain kinds of
treatment. For example, results can show
clinicians that a patient will not respond
well to a certain medication. Doctors can
then choose a different drug that will
work well.
Identifying risk
In some cases, genetic screening
can show if a patient is at risk for other
problems. For example, a colon cancer
patient might discover that she has Lynch
Syndrome, which indicates a higher
risk for uterine cancer. Armed with this
knowledge, the patient can work with her
physician to address that risk through
a screening regimen or preventive
treatment.
Family impact
If genetic testing reveals a health risk
that might affect a patient’s family, a
counselor will empower the patient with
information and context to present to
their family and discuss questions the
patient might hear and how to respond
appropriately.
For more information about genetic
screening and testing at Aspirus, please
call
715.847.0455
or email
genetics@
aspirus.org
.
In about 5 to
10 percent of people
who have cancer,
the disease is linked
to family genetics.
For this reason, the
Commission on
Cancer recommends
genetic screening for
anyone diagnosed
with cancer.
GENETIC COUNSELING
More personalized
cancer care
12
aspire
Fall 2014
