individuals seeking answers about their personal or family cancer risk, Houston Methodist Sugar Land, The Woodlands and West Hospitals offer comprehensive genetic counseling services to help patients navigate complex health decisions, the hospital system announced in a December 10 press release.

Genetic counseling helps assess hereditary risks for a wide range of cancers, including:

• Breast

• Ovarian

• Pancreatic

• Prostate

• Melanoma

• Colorectal

• Small bowel

• Adrenal

• Kidney

• Bladder

• Rare conditions and soft tissue sarcomas


“Genetic counseling is a powerful tool that helps individuals understand their inherited health risks,” said Kaitlin Stokes, a genetic counselor at Houston Methodist West. “Patients can then use that information to take proactive steps toward prevention. This can guide earlier screening, risk reduction, and lead to more personalized care.”

HOW IT WORKS

• Referral required: Patients interested in genetic counseling should speak with their primary care provider, OB/GYN or oncologist for a referral.

• Testing: Blood or saliva samples are collected and sent for analysis. Testing often begins with a focused panel of 8–10 high-risk genes, followed by a broader panel of up to 82 genes.

• Results: They are typically available within 3–4 weeks and are often reviewed during a follow-up appointment, which may include a high-risk assessment and recommendations for additional screening.


WHO SHOULD CONSIDER GENETIC COUNSELING?

• Individuals diagnosed with cancer at age 65 or younger.

• Those with a first- or second-degree relative who were diagnosed with cancer before age 50.

• Patients with aggressive cancer or rare cancers (i.e., triple-negative breast cancer).

• Individuals with limited or unknown family history, including those who were adopted.


COST AND COVERAGE

Most insurance plans cover genetic testing for patients who meet clinical criteria. For those without coverage, self-pay options are available through the genetic testing laboratory starting at approximately $249.00, the hospital system said. Financial assistance programs based on income and household size are also available to patients who need it.

WHAT DO MY RESULTS MEAN?

If a patient’s results indicate elevated or high risk, they may be recommended for:

• Earlier and more frequent imaging (i.e. mammograms or breast MRIs starting at age 25 for those with elevated breast cancer risks).

• Preventive medications to reduce risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

• Prophylactic surgery, such as bilateral mastectomy, which can reduce breast cancer risk by up to 96%.


To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact Houston Methodist or speak with your health care provider about a referral. Houston Methodist West Hospital is located at 18500 Katy Freeway in Houston, at the intersection of Greenhouse Road and the Katy Freeway.

For more information about Houston Methodist, visit the hospital system’s newsroom or our social media pages on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok or its “On Health” and “Leading Medicine”