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Prostate Cancer Risk and Prevention
Clinic
Nearly everyone has at least one family member with cancer. When
several members have cancer, suspicions are raised about a genetic
predisposition --- especially when cancer occurs in multiple family
members at a young age. In some families, genetic testing may
identify altered cancer predisposition genes that are passed from
parent to child. Genetic information may help some people learn
whether they have an increased likelihood of developing certain
cancers or whether inherited factors have contributed to their
own or family member’s cancer. Individuals who are determined
to be at increased risk may take steps to reduce their risk through
regular screening and prevention strategies
The UCSF Cancer Risk Program was established in 1996 as a multi-disciplinary,
genetic counseling service for families with hereditary cancer.
The Prostate Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic is an expansion
of this program through a collaboration with the UCSF Comprehensive
Cancer Center Prostate Cancer Program. Specialty-trained genetic
counselors and physicians assess the personal and family history,
verify cancer diagnoses, provide education and counseling, and
offer genetic testing for cancer predisposition genes, when appropriate.
Based on risk factors and genetic testing, the genetic counselors
and physicians provide an individualized risk management program
for each patient that includes recommendations for preventive
measures and future screening for cancer.
Services
| The UCSF Prostate Cancer Risk
and Prevention Clinic offers the following services: |
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In-depth cancer-risk assessment based on
personal and family history |
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Genetic counseling and education of cancer
risk for patients and their families |
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Screening examinations and tests, as appropriate.
These may include: |
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Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy
using local anesthesia and the most current biopsy strategies |
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Color-doppler ultrasound imaging |
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
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Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) |
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More Specific and/or sensitive serum
tests |
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Development of a personalized screening
and prevention plan (in collaboration with the patient’s
referring physician) |
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Strategies to reduce cancer-risk that include
modifiable lifestyle changes and cancer-prevention options.
The relative importance of diet in reducing risk is thoroughly
discussed. |
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The opportunity to participate in clinical
research trials of new agents for prevention of prostate
cancer, genetic testing, or other appropriate research studies |
Who is at an increased
risk of prostate cancer?
The following guidelines help to identify individuals whose cancer
risk may be greater than the general population. Suggestive personal
and family histories include:
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2 or more family members with prostate cancer
– especially when cancer is diagnosed in close relatives
(father and son, brothers, etc.) |
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Prostate cancer occurring at age 60 or younger |
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African American men |
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Families with prostate cancer and breast cancer or ovarian
cancer – especially when these cancers occur in Jewish
families |
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Individuals with more than one primary cancer diagnosis |
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Individuals with rare or less-commonly diagnosed cancers
(for example, breast cancer in a male) |
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Families with known hereditary cancer syndromes |
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Men with abnormal or rising serum prostate-specific
antigen (PSA) levels |
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Men found to have premalignant cancer on previous biopsies
(i.e., high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm or
atypia) |
Our multi-disciplinary team
At your first visit, you will see one or more of the following
health care professionals: genetic counselor, urologist, and medical
oncologist. Other professionals, such as nutritionists and psychologists
are also available to consult with you and your family.
Research component
Family history is one of the established risk factors for prostate
cancer, and it is estimated that 42% of the variability in prostate
cancer occurrence can be explained by hereditary factors. There
are no standard-of-care genetic tests for identifying men at
high risk of developing clinically important prostate cancer.
To elucidate the genetic basis for this disease and improve standards
of clinical care, we are conducting clinical and epidemiologic
research as part of the risk and prevention clinic for genitourinary
cancer patients at the UCSF Hellen Diller Family Comprehensive
Cancer Center. As part of this program, patients are asked to
complete a detailed questionnaire about the history of cancer
in their relatives at check-in or via their pre-visit mailed
packets. After these data are reviewed by a genetic counselor
they are used in research studies, which include: qualitative
and descriptive studies, and genetic epidemiology. Patients are
contacted by the genetic counselor and a urologist if they indicated
an interest in follow-up and have a strong family history of
cancer. This research may help future generations by improving
our ability to screen, diagnose, and treat prostate cancer; and
in particular identify those cases which may be the most clinically
significant. The clinic is supported by intramural funds.
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Contents of This Page
Faculty
Peter Carroll,
MD, MPH
June Chan, ScD
Maxwell Meng,
MD
Katsuto Shinohara,
MD
Marc Shuman,
MD
Key Staff
Genetic Counselor
415/885-7779
Jeanette Broering, RN, MS, MPH,
Director of Data Procurement and Quality Assurance
jbroering@urology.ucsf.edu
415/514-0203
Janet Cowan, Programmer Analyst
jcowan@urology.ucsf.edu
415/353-7424
Appointments & Location
Urologic
Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center
1600 Divisadero Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143-1711
Contact Number
For patient consultation please call us at 415/885-7779
Additional Information
UCSF Hellen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center's Cancer Risk Program
UCSF Medical Center's Cancer Risk Program
415/885-7779
877/RISK4CA (877/747-5422) toll free
G-CEPS
The Genitourinary Cancer Epidemiology and Population
Science (G-CEPS) program encompasses all studies involving patients
or populations conducted by or in collaboration with Urology.
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