Cancer genetic counselling involves having a certified genetic counsellor help you and your family understand your inherited cancer risk. Inherited cancer risk may be passed from parent to child. He or she can also offer information about cancer screening, prevention, and treatment options and provide support.
Cancer is a disease of genetic material in short. The genetic history is a easiest raw data to understand the probability of cancers transmission in genetically related people. Dr. Hitendra Patil always says “know your genes…. you will know cancers better”. Certain cancers can be treated before they manifest if the damaged genes are diagnosed. Dr Patil carries the expertise in genetic counselling and advocating only relevant tests for certain patients, identifying individuals who would benefit from tests, prophylactic surgery in cancer for certain genetic disorders associated with cancers.
e.g. familial adenomatous polyposis, FAP gene positive individual can undergo surgery i.e. total proctocolectomy and cancers can be avoided. Similarly, BRACA 1 & 2 for breast and ovary cancer etc