The members of the program faculty have declared no conflict of interest. In such families, at-risk relatives tend to develop cancer at an earlier age than usual and are more likely to develop multiple primary tumors. Consequently, the clinical management of patients with hereditary predisposition to cancer differs from that of patients at general population risk. Screening for cancer begins at a younger age than usual and may be done more frequently. In addition, these patients may benefit from surgical or pharmaceutical interventions to reduce cancer risk.
Genetic testing is now available for a number of hereditary cancer syndromes.
Genetic analysis can be a cost-effective way to distinguish between those in a family at increased cancer risk versus those at population risk. For all these reasons, it is important to identify patients with heritable predisposition to cancer. Recognize how identification of a particular hereditary cancer syndrome affects the clinical management of at-risk patients. This program is sponsored by the Carolina-Georgia Cancer Genetics Network, comprised of researchers from Emory University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Emory University School of Medicine designates this continuing medical education activity for 7.5 credit hours in Category 1 of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association.