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    The Hereditary Cancer Program (HCP) was founded in 1996 by a combined effort on behalf of the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) and the B.C. Provincial Medical Genetics Program. (Cite) Staffed by pathologists, oncologists, genetic counselors and medical geneticists, the HCP is dedicated to educating health-care professionals, as well as providing “information and genetic counseling for individuals and families with a strong history of cancer” (Cite). The main goals of the HCP are to “increase the effectiveness of genetic testing by focusing its use on those individuals and families for whom it is most likely to be informative” and to reduce the utilization of unnecessary medical procedures and the attendant anxiety (such as intensive screening, testing, and surgery) by accurately identifying mutation carriers and non-carriers within families”. (Cite W) 

What is Hereditary Cancer?

Main Article: Hereditary Cancer

    While anyone is capable of developing cancer, the cause of most cancers is not due to a hereditary risk. (Cite) In fact, it is estimated that only 5-10% of all cancers are a result of inheriting genes mutations (Cite). Some common hereditary cancers include breast cancer, ovarian cancer, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and hereditary intestinal polyposis syndrome (Peutz–Jeghers syndrome). Hereditary Cancer usually develops at an earlier stage in life than other forms of cancer and is caused by changes (or mutations) in specific genes which are passed from one blood relative to another. (Cite)

You are at risk of Hereditary Cancers if (Cite):

• 2 or more closely related family members with the same type of cancer

A pattern of cancer over at least 2 generations runs in your family Blood related family members had cancers diagnosed at an earlier age than expected in the general population Multiple primary cancers in an individual An unusual clustering of cancers in you or a blood relative A pattern of cancers associated with a known hereditary syndrome runs in your family