Genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer now available at Swedish Edmonds

January 26, 2015 Swedish News

Other New Services Offered at the Swedish Cancer Institute in Edmonds

EDMONDS, Wash — Jan., 26, 2014 — Swedish Edmonds announced today that it now offers genetic counseling and testing for Swedish Cancer Institute (SCI) patients. Genetic counseling can help determine which genetic tests are appropriate for patients and families with inherited cancers including breast, ovarian and colon cancers.

“Genetic counseling and testing can significantly influence a patient’s cancer treatment plan,” said Robert Resta, MS, board-certified genetic counselor at SCI. “Counseling can also indicate appropriate screening tests and medical procedures for relatives who may be at increased risk of developing cancer.”

Genetic counselors are health professionals with specialized training in genetics, medicine, risk assessment and counseling who work closely with oncologists, surgeons and other cancer specialists to help integrate genetic-test results into patient care and close observation for cancer. Patients can meet with a genetic counselor and sessions typically last between 30-90 minutes. Genetic counseling can not only help clarify cancer risks, but also identify appropriate screening and risk-reducing strategies to help lower the chance of developing cancer.

This service is also available for women and men who do not have cancer, but who are concerned about their hereditary cancer risks. A hereditary component is more likely when cancer is diagnosed before age 50, when there are multiple relatives diagnosed with cancer, or for certain ethnic groups. Genetic testing is confidential and involves either a blood draw or saliva sample.

In addition to genetic counseling and testing, a new branch of the Swedish Colon & Rectal Clinic recently opened at Swedish Edmonds as well as a Survivorship Program for patients. SCI was the first medical center on the West Coast to offer radiation therapy using the Elekta Versa HD™ linear accelerator (linac). A linac is a machine that directs high-energy beams of radiation at a cancer tumor to destroy cancer cells.

Swedish Edmonds includes a two-story medical oncology center that features an oncology suite, chemotherapy and infusion services, and patient-care areas with enhanced patient privacy and comfort. The cancer center continues to develop and expand services specifically designed to provide an additional layer of support for patients and families, including a Cancer Resource Center in partnership with the American Cancer Society, naturopathic medicine and massage therapy services, and an upcoming launch of a nutritional counseling program.

For more information about SCI services available at Swedish Edmonds and at other Swedish campuses, please visit www.swedish.org/cancer. To learn more about genetic counseling and testing services offered by Swedish, call 425-673-8349.

About Swedish Edmonds

Swedish Edmonds is licensed for 217 beds with a professional staff of about 1,400 employees. The hospital is nationally recognized having received an ‘A’ grade in the fall 2013, spring 2014 and fall 2014 updates to the national Hospital Safety Score, compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and administered by The Leapfrog Group (Leapfrog), an independent industry watchdog. Swedish Edmonds has also been honored with the Emergency Nurse Association 2014 Lantern Award and Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence™ Award from HealthGrades®, a leading independent source of physician information and hospital quality ratings, in 2011 and 2012. For more information, visit www.swedish.org/edmonds.

About Swedish

Founded in 1910, Swedish is the largest non-profit health provider in the Greater Seattle area. It is comprised of five hospital campuses (First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, Edmonds and Issaquah); ambulatory care centers in Redmond and Mill Creek; and Swedish Medical Group, a network of more than 100 primary-care and specialty clinics located throughout the Greater Puget Sound area. In addition to general medical and surgical care including robotic-assisted surgery, Swedish is known as a regional referral center, providing specialized treatment in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, high-risk obstetrics, pediatric specialties, organ transplantation and clinical research. In 2013, Swedish provided nearly $143 million in community benefit in Western Washington. For more information, visit www.swedish.org,www.facebook.com/swedishmedicalcenter, or www.twitter.com/swedish.

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