Valley is aware of the nationwide supply disruption of IV fluid solution due to Hurricane Helene, and wants to reassure the community that steps have been taken to ensure the situation will have no negative impact on our patients and the community.
The Valley Hospital’s Cancer Genetics Program provides individualized family history analysis, risk evaluation, counseling and testing to help individuals determine their risk for developing cancer. Valley’s program, which is affiliated with the Strang Cancer Prevention Center and Cornell Medical Center, was one of the first hospital-based cancer genetics programs in New Jersey.
While all cancers are due to changes in genetic material at the cellular level, most cancers are not inherited. In fact, only 5 to 10 percent of cancers are hereditary. Many people who believe they are at high risk for developing cancer are reassured when they discover that their chances are actually slim.
However, some cancers, such as breast, ovarian and colon cancer, are more likely to be inherited. The cause is often a gene mutation that can be passed from mothers or fathers to their children. If a woman inherits a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, for example, she will be more susceptible to developing cancer of the breast and ovaries. Mutations in these two genes are believed to cause most cases of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Although anyone concerned about the risk of developing cancer can benefit from and take advantage of the Cancer Genetics Program, we especially encourage individuals who have: