About the LIFE Center

The LPGA prosIn the Fight to Eradicate breast cancer (LIFE) Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey is dedicated to teaching young women how to maintain breast health and reduce the factors that increase their risk of breast cancer.The Center was establishedto recognize the support and advocacy of professional golfer, Val Skinner who is the founder of the Val Skinner Foundationand LIFE, and the LPGApros. The LIFE Center is a place where young women can come to better understand their personal risk to develop cancer and what they can do about it. The LIFE Center is positioned to identify and meet the needs of young women of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Researchers and medical professionals at The LIFE Center are dedicated to improving young women's understanding of their risk to develop breast cancer and their knowledge of appropriate prevention and screening strategies.

The Hereditary Oncology Prevention and Evaluation (HOPE) program is funded by and located within the LIFE Center. The program is designed for iindividuals who are concerned about their risks to develop cancer based on his or her family history of cancer, or his or her own personal medical history. The program offers patients and families appropriate medical and genetic testing information, and provides support and resources for those confronting cancer risk. The aim of the HOPE program is to help patients and families make informed decisions about their own health care as well as to provide information about ways to monitor for and treat possible cancer.

The LIFE Center and HOPE program are directed by Dr. Deborah Toppmeyer, and include a group of specialists who provide comprehensive care to families and individuals concerned about their risks of developing cancer. Your multidisciplinary team may include a genetic counselor, medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, gynecologist, and/or social worker. With the multiple perspectives of a multidisciplinary team, the HOPE program is able to address many of the unique needs of high-risk cancer patients and families.

The Hereditary Oncology Prevention and Evaluation (HOPE) Program is designed for anyone who is worried about his or her own personal cancer risk or about cancer within the family.

It is especially helpful for families with any of the following:

Genetic Testing When family history is suggestive of an inherited cancer risk, genetic testing may be available to further define your own risk of cancer as well as the risk to your relatives. If available and recommended, genetic testing will be offered at the conclusion of you initial appointment with the HOPE program

Follow-up Plan Based on the teams risk assessment, a personalized plan for careful monitoring and/or prevention will be designed and provided to you and your doctors. You may also choose to continue to be seen at our center.

Psychosocial Support Social workers and genetic counselors will be available to help you and your family address the unique issues involved with assessment and management of cancer risk.

Research You will have access to appropriate clinical studies to evaluate new methods for the early detection of cancer, cancer prevention, cancer treatment, and genetic testing. Eligibility, benefits and limitations of these trials will be discussed, when appropriate.

Additional Resources The LIFE Center and HOPE program have several ongoing initiatives to promote genetic counseling services throughout the community as well as to provide ongoing support and education to patients of the program.

The primary location of the Hereditary Oncology Prevention and Evaluation (HOPE) Program is in the LIFE Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ. However, CINJ, the LIFE Center, and the HOPE Program strive to provide the best cancer care throughout the community. To achieve this goal, genetic counselors from the HOPE Program visit multiple outreach clinics throughout New Jersey at CINJaffiliate hospitalsto provide genetic counseling services to community hospitals.

Deborah Toppmeyer, MD, Director, Medical Oncologist Hetal Vig, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor Stephanie Pachter, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor Sandra D'Elia, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor Sarah Nashed, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor

How to schedule an appointment or get more information

To schedule an appointment or for further information, please call 732-235-7110 or email us at hope_program@cinj.rutgers.edu.

Here is the original post:
Genetic Counseling and Risk Assessment: The LIFE Center ...

Comments are closed.