If you would like to find out if a disorder has or could be inherited by your children or you are worried that you or your unborn baby may be susceptible to a disease, you may want to explore genetic testing at Holy Name Hospital. Genetic testing is available for a variety of genetic illnesses and for prenatal diagnosis.
Advances in the field of genetics have yielded a substantial amount of knowledge about how genetic disorders occur. Reasons include:
- chromosomal abnormalities, which can cause Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and other illnesses
- gene mutations, which can cause illnesses such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, fragile X syndrome, and Tay-Sachs disease
- cancer-susceptibility genes predispose a person to specific cancers, such as breast, ovarian, skin, or colorectal.
Our multidisciplinary team of health care professionals — including a board-certified genetic counselor — educates, counsels, and supports patients in their quest for answers. The team discusses the risks associated with testing and shares helpful resources.
You may want to consider genetic testing if you:
- have a family or personal history of an inherited disorder
- have a family or personal history of cancer
- have a child with a genetic disorder
- belong to an ethnic group that is at high risk for certain genetic disorders
- have a history of pregnancy loss
- are of advanced maternal age (34 or older)
- are pregnant and have been exposed to agents that could possibly cause birth defects.
The Cancer Risk Assessment Program provides comprehensive care to families and individuals concerned about their risk of developing cancer. In addition to a genetic counselor, other health care professionals — including medical, gynecologic, and surgical oncologists; nurses; radiologists; and pathologists — offer their expertise and multiple perspectives. For an information packet about the Cancer Risk Assessment Program, call 201-227-6008. For inquiries about all other genetic disorders and genetic testing, call 201-541-5956.