Our aim is to provide comprehensive cancer preventive care for patients and families who have or are at risk of hereditary gastrointestinal or pancreas cancer. The program includes specific clinics dedicated to patients with Lynch syndrome, polyposis, genetic or hereditary pancreas and stomach cancers. With specialists in many fields, we provide cancer-risk evaluation, counseling and testing, and dedicated cancer prevention and surveillance (monitoring).
Our clinical team members are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the field and are active members of national clinical guidelines panels. They are dedicated to ongoing research as part of a national taskforce for cancer prevention and apply their learnings to improve patient care. They work closely with Yale Medicine leaders in the growing field and a major academic referral center for clinical genetics services with the most advanced technologies.
In partnership with specialists from Smilow Cancer Hospital, Digestive Heath, Obstetrics and Gynecology and others throughout Yale New Haven Health, our team works with patients who are at high risk or have a condition that poses a risk for possible development of cancer that are referred by their primary care doctor or specialist.
After a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical and family history, the team discusses the appropriate comprehensive plan to prevent and/or diagnose early all cancers individuals are at increased risk of acquiring. The program then coordinates with cancer prevention specialists, preventive services such as weight management or smoking cessation, or social workers, and schedules all needed tests. Every effort is made to streamline the process by scheduling multiple tests during the same visit when possible. Specialists review test results with the patient and explain in detail the importance and meaning of each test.
High Risk Areas of Focus
Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Program
The program provides comprehensive risk assessment, education, and screening for patients at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Patients with a family history of pancreatic cancer, certain inherited genes (BRCA2, BRCA1, PALB2, ATM, Peutz Jeghers Syndrome, CDK2NA, Lynch Syndrome, and Hereditary Pancreatitis Genes (PRSS1/2, CTRC, CFTR), pancreatic cysts and new onset diabetes may be at increased risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Patients at high-risk may require long-term monitoring and care.
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Lynch Syndrome and Polyposis Program
This program serves patients at risk or with a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome and gastrointestinal polyposis such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, MUTYH-associated polyposis, serrated polyposys, Peutz-Jeghers, Cowden, juvenile polyposis syndromes, or therapy-associated polyposis. These conditions increase the risk of gastrointestinal, gynecological and other cancers and often at a very young age. They require cancer preventive measures as well as careful monitoring for cancers to diagnose and treat them early. This program has pioneered the implementation of sophisticated systems to help identify individuals at risk.
Hereditary Stomach Cancer Program
Diffuse type stomach cancers can be associated with inherited genetic defects that result in a significant risk for stomach and breast cancer. Intensive cancer screening and prophylactic surgery can have an important impact and save lives. Our program addresses specific cancer risks by family and provides needed resources to assist in the clinical decision-making process. Early cancer detection and monitoring is performed with state-of-the-art protocols. Our program has led studies to help better understand this condition and its management as well as how to diagnose it.
Research
Our physicians have extensive experience in the field of gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancer prevention. They place importance on continuous research for cancer prevention as part of a national taskforce focused on studying prevention and treatment of inherited cancers. There is a research registry that our patients are invited to participate in as well as several open trials available to them.
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