Overview

Genetic Counseling for Genitourinary Cancers

The goal of the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Genetics program is to prevent cancer or, if cancer occurs, to detect it as early as possible by identifying individuals at increased risk.

If you or your family is at increased risk of cancer due to personal or family history, Northwestern Medicine geneticists can provide individualized cancer risk assessment and health management recommendations.

Genetic Counseling and Prostate Cancer

If you have prostate cancer or are at increased risk due to personal or family history, you can access genetic counseling through the Northwestern Medicine Department of Urology. Our genetic counselor provides comprehensive risk assessment, genetic testing and follow-up care in our Urology Clinic.

If you choose to meet with a genetic counselor, you are not obligated to get genetic testing. We understand that this is a complicated and personal decision. Our genetic counselor can discuss the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of testing with you to help you decide.

You should consider genetic testing if you are a man who has any of the following:

• Metastatic, intraductal/cribriform prostate cancer
• A high risk of prostate cancer at any age
• Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and prostate cancer