Need Immediate Care?
For emergency services, call 911.
For non-emergency walk-in care, try an ExpressCARE location.
Need help scheduling or have a question?
Call 888-402-LVHN (5846).
Genetic Testing for Cancer
Need Immediate Care?
For emergency services, call 911.
For non-emergency walk-in care, try an ExpressCARE location.
Need help scheduling or have a question?
Call 888-402-LVHN (5846).
At Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute, we don’t wait for a cancer diagnosis to start caring for you. Genetic testing from The Gregory and Lorraine Harper Cancer Risk and Genetic Assessment Program can help identify your risk for developing cancer.
A sample of your cells is often all it takes to determine your risk for hereditary cancer, including colon-rectal and breast cancer, which can be passed down in families. Genetic testing is also helping us usher in a new wave of cancer care by personalizing treatments in ways that have previously not been possible.
Genetic testing to determine your cancer risk
Genetic testing helps us determine your cancer risk by identifying changes in your genes (mutations) that could lead to cancer.
Testing positive for a hereditary cancer mutation does not mean you have cancer. And it’s possible to live your life without a cancer diagnosis. Our cancer genetics specialists explain what the test results mean for your health. Find out more about genetic counseling for cancer.
Our genuine concern for your well-being includes staying in touch with you regarding your cancer risk. In some cases, genetic testing for cancer uncovers a mutation with no known link to cancer. Through yearly follow-up visits, our cancer genetics experts let you know if research has unlocked new clues about the mutation and whether it affects your cancer risk. We are one of the few programs in the region offering this service.
Genetic testing for cancer treatment
If there is a cancer diagnosis, genetic testing helps us deliver care that meets your unique needs. Genetic testing makes it possible to:
- Tailor your care: We perform genetic testing on tumors to identify the mutation causing the cancer. We then develop a care plan that includes cancer-fighting drugs with a track record for destroying that mutation. Find out more about targeted therapy.
- Deliver innovative treatments: We are participating in research to explore mutations in even greater detail – at the molecular level. This information allows us to deliver more effective care for cancers that do not respond to standard treatments. Find out more about precision medicine.
