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Newton-Wellesley Hospital

2014 Washington Street

Newton, MA 02462

617-243-6000

Open 24 hours
Lab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary
 

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Ambulatory Care Center - Natick

307 W Central St

Natick, MA 01760

617-243-5345

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Ambulatory Care Center - Newton

159 Wells Ave

Newton Centre, MA 02459

617-243-5777

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Ambulatory Care Center - Walpole

111 Norfolk Street

Walpole, MA 02081maps

617-243-5345

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Ambulatory Care Center – Wellesley

978 Worcester Road (rte 9)

Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482

781-235-5200

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Maxwell Blum Emergency Pavilion

2014 Washington Street

Newton, MA 02462

617-243-6000

Open 24 hours

Lab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary

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Outpatient Surgery Center - Wellesley

25 Washington Street

Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481

617-219-1520

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Waltham Walk-In

9 Hope Ave

Waltham, MA 02453

617-243-5590

Monday through Saturday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Lab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary

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Our Locations

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  • Ambulatory Care Center - Natick
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Cancer Genetics Program
About the Cancer Center
617-219-1230

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Cancer Genetics Program

 

The National Cancer Institute notes that inherited gene alterations play a major role in about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers. These genes can be passed down through a family and can increase your risk for developing certain cancers.

If you are concerned about your own risk of cancer or your family’s risk due to a personal or family history of cancer, our Cancer Genetics Program can help.

Complete cancer genetic testing and risk assessments

  • Comprehensive assessment of hereditary cancer risk based on your personal and family medical history
  • Genetic testing for inherited gene alterations
  • Individualized cancer screening and risk reduction plans based on risk assessment and genetic testing results

As part of our breast, ovarian and colorectal cancer screening process we gather information about your family history and input it into our advanced risk-assessment software. If we find that you have an increased risk of hereditary cancer, we’ll contact you and your referring doctor to recommend that you undergo cancer genetic counseling.

Through this program many patients and their families have benefitted from enhanced screening and other interventions after being identified as higher risk for cancers such as breast, ovary and colorectal.

Risk Factors for Hereditary Cancers

Researchers have discovered several genes associated with elevated risk for various types of cancer including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. Some common characteristics of hereditary cancers include:

  • Young age at cancer diagnosis, often younger than 50
  • Multiple generations of a family affected by the same cancer or related types of cancer
  • Family members with more than one cancer diagnosis
  • Family members with rare forms of cancer, such as male breast cancer

It’s important to know about your family’s history of cancer so you can be aware of how your own risk might be affected. Create a record of your family's health history.

Additional Cancer Genetics Resources

For more information about our Cancer Genetics Program, please call 617-831-7430. The following webpages also contain helpful information about genetic risks for cancer:

  • Genetics, American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • The Genetics of Cancer, National Cancer Institute
  • FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

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Newton-Wellesley Hospital

2014 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02462
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617-243-6000

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