We help to identify families that may have a hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer syndrome and, when indicated, offer genetic testing, cancer screening and support.
If you are interested in a consultation with the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment team, you can make an appointment at one of four locations:
Mass General Cancer Center main campus (Yawkey Building, Suite 10B, 55 Fruit St., Boston); call 617-724-1971
Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center (102 Endicott St., Danvers, MA); call 978-882-6370
Mass General Cancer Center at Emerson Hospital – Bethke (133 Old Road to Nine Acre Corner, Concord, MA); call 978-371-4805
Mass General Waltham (52 Second Ave., Suite 1110, Waltham, MA 02451); call 781-487-6100
Explore the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genetics Clinic
The Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genetics Clinic was the first disease program established within the Center for Cancer Risk Assessment (CCRA). Under the direction of Leif W. Ellisen, MD, PhD, our staff includes specialists in both breast oncology and genetics. We also work closely with the gynecology/oncology group at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Patients interested in an evaluation for hereditary breast or ovarian cancer meet first with a genetic counselor. During the initial genetics consultation, family history is carefully reviewed. If your personal or family history suggests a possible genetic risk, we will discuss the option of genetic testing.
Each patient's history is reviewed with Dr. Ellisen and the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genetics team. When appropriate, we will make medical management recommendations. If you are identified as high-risk based on genetic testing and/or family history, you can choose to be followed by one of our high-risk specialists, Drs. Ellisen and Micalizzi, or other members of the high-risk team at the Mass General Cancer Center.
Should You Consider Genetic Counseling?
A visit to our clinic may be appropriate if you have a personal or family history of one or more of the following:
Breast cancer diagnosed before age 45
Breast cancer in three or more people on one side (maternal or paternal) of the family
Bilateral breast cancer diagnosis
Breast cancer in an individual of Ashkenazi Jewish descent
Ovarian cancer
Family history of:
Breast and ovarian cancer
Breast, thyroid and uterine cancer
Breast, sarcoma, leukemia, adrenal cortical cancer and brain cancer
Breast cancer and diffuse gastric cancer
Breast and pancreatic cancer
Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer Diseases
The conditions most commonly discussed with patients in our clinic include:
Bright Pink provides support to young women at high risk for breast & ovarian cancer.
Videos
New technologies in genetic testing have recently uncovered information about other genes linked to hereditary breast cancer. In this presentation by the Mass General Blum Center, join Carly Grant, MS, LCGC, to learn about other hereditary breast cancer genes beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Ovarian cancer is rare in the general population, but if it runs in your family, you may be at risk. In this Blum Center presentation from August 3, 2020, Kathleen Steinberg, MS, LCGC, discusses ovarian cancer-causing genes and what you can do if you have familial risk.
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The Story Project
The Story Project is our effort to capture the stories from the people in our Mass General Cancer Center community.
Testing for the classic hereditary breast cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, has been available and widely offered since their discovery in the 1990s. However, new technologies in genetic testing have recently uncovered information about other genes linked to hereditary breast cancer.
Ovarian cancer is rare in the general population, but if it runs in your family, you may be at risk. In this Blum Center presentation from August 3, 2020, Kathleen Steinberg, MS, LCGC, discusses ovarian cancer-causing genes and what you can do if you have familial risk.