Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.
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You or a close relative have or had colon, ovarian, pancreatic, uterine, stomach, or metastatic prostate cancer
You were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, or have had multiple breast cancers
A close relative was diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50
You have 10 or more gastrointestinal polyps
You have multiple family members diagnosed with breast, colon, uterine, or gastrointestinal cancers before age 50
You have another type of cancer and want to know if genetic
Talk to your doctor about whether a referral is appropriate. The below conditions are some of the most common conditions we test for.
Breast Cancer
Cancer cells in the breast form a malignant (cancerous) tumor that appears as a lump. Most breast cancers are carcinomas or cancers that begin in the lining of organs.
Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine, while rectal cancer is cancer of the last few inches of the colon. These cancers are typically called colorectal cancers. While most colon cancers begin as small, benign groups of cells called polyps, over time these cells can become cancerous.
Ovarian cancer begins in a woman's ovaries, which produce eggs and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it spreads throughout the pelvis and abdomen because there are rarely any noticeable symptoms in the cancer's early stages.
Stomach cancer (gastric cancer) starts when cancer cells form in the stomach lining. Early symptoms can include indigestion and heartburn, a bloated feeling after eating a meal, heartburn, slight nausea and loss of appetite. More serious symptoms often appear as a stomach tumor grows, including stomach pain, blood in the stool, vomiting, unintended weight loss and trouble swallowing. Inflammation in the gut (gastritis), anemia and stomach growths (polyps) can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
There are different types of uterine cancer. The most common type is called endometrial cancer. Symptoms of uterine cancer include, abnormal vaginal bleeding, problems urinating, pelvic or pelvic floor pain, pain during sex.
