Familial Cancer Program
What is the Familial Cancer Program (FCP)?
A multidisciplinary program developed to help individuals, families, and healthcare practitioners manage cancer risk through state-of-the-art clinical care and research.
The Familial Cancer Program (FCP) is a multidisciplinary healthcare service coordinated by the Vermont Cancer Center at the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care. Founded in 1994, the FCP clinic provides services in medical oncology, genetic counseling, molecular diagnostics, pathology, and psychology. Since its beginning, specialists at the FCP have evaluated hundreds of families in Vermont and upstate New York for possible hereditary cancer.
The FCP provides advanced care for familial cancer by linking state-of-the-art research studies with patient services. Research efforts include identifying new cancer-causing genes, understanding the psychological impact and consequences of genetic testing and of being at increased risk for cancer, and developing new methods to screen for hereditary cancer. Additionally, our healthcare professionals are in close contact with colleagues at many other cancer centers, providing families with the benefits of treatment options and research being conducted well beyond Vermont.
What is familial cancer?
When cancer occurs in two or more relatives in a family, that family has familial cancer. In some families, familial cancer is sporadic. Sporadic cancers are caused by an accumulation of gene changes that occur naturally or as a result of environmental exposures. Sporadic cancers are not due to inheritance of a cancer-causing gene and cannot be passed on to future generations.
In other families with multiple cancers, cancer results from inheriting a cancer-causing gene. This type of cancer is known as hereditary cancer, and can be passed on to future generations. Family members who inherit a cancer-causing gene are more likely to develop cancer than other people. When a person is “cancer-prone” in this way, cancer often occurs at an early age and may occur more than once in that individual.
Regrettably, as many as one in three Americans develop cancer, so it’s difficult to know whether a family history of cancer is due to an inherited gene or not. Approximately 5-10% of many cancer types are due to inheritance of a cancer-causing gene. A careful examination of a family’s medical history, sometimes combined with genetic testing, can help distinguish sporadic from hereditary cancer. This knowledge may be helpful in individualizing cancer screening and prevention options.
How does the FCP help families?
If you or your doctor is concerned about your personal or family history of cancer, professionals at the FCP can help. They can assess risk for breast, ovarian, colon, and other cancers. Since the prospect of hereditary cancer risk may have both profound psychological and medical consequences, you and your family may benefit from genetic counseling, education, and support.
Here’s what our professional staff can offer:
- A full review of your family/medical history to assess your risk for cancer and/or the likelihood of a cancer-causing gene being present in your family
- Details about options for cancer screening, prevention, and treatment
- Information and counseling about genetic testing—including a discussion of its risks, benefits, and limitations—and whether it is appropriate for you or your family
- A program of cancer screening tailored to your personal cancer risk—developed in consultation with your family doctor
- An opportunity for confidential discussions about your specific concerns
- A written summary of the findings of the review
How do I make an appointment for a visit?
Whether you’re an individual or a healthcare provider, the first step is to contact our genetic counselor, Wendy McKinnon, M.S., to learn more about the FCP program. For insurance purposes, individuals may need a referral from a primary care physician. Ms. McKinnon will ask for information about a family’s cancer history to determine whether a clinic visit and staff review are likely to be helpful. She’ll then arrange consultations for individuals or families as appropriate.
Consultations generally take place at Fletcher Allen Health Care. A few times a year, consultations may take place at other sites in Vermont—including the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.
To contact Wendy McKinnon, call (802) 847-4495.
FCP Professional Staff
The FCP staff includes a caring and experienced team of individuals with expertise in familial cancer. The team meets on a regular basis to review the histories of families who have contacted the FCP about their cancer concerns.
Marie Wood, M.D., FCP Director
Marie Wood, a medical oncologist, has been the director of the FCP since 1997. She cares for patients with all types of cancer, specializing in the treatment of breast cancer and melanoma. She is also actively involved in clinical research related to cancer genetics.
Marc Greenblatt, M.D.
A medical oncologist who joined the Vermont Cancer Center in 1995, Marc Greenblatt specializes in the care of patients with colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers. He maintains an active research program on the molecular genetics of cancer.
Sandy May
As manager of the Vermont Cancer Center Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Sandy May is responsible for clinical DNA testing and research sample banking activities. Since the Laboratory’s special area of expertise is in hereditary cancers, most of Ms. May’s work is for the FCP.
Wendy McKinnon, M.S.
A certified genetic counselor with special expertise in cancer genetics, Wendy McKinnon has been the coordinator for the FCP since it was founded in 1994. She is a member of the faculty of the UVM College of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics.
Contact Info:
From Burlington: 847-4495
Elsewhere: 1-877-540-HOPE (4673)
