High Risk Cancer Program
The High Risk Program at Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center aims to identify and serve patients who have a stronger-than-average chance of developing cancer.
Our team, including cancer doctors, nurses, genetic counselors and nutritionists, offers:
- Risk assessment, including medical and family history review
- Nutrition and lifestyle modification and education
- Genetic counseling
- Cancer screenings
- Genetic testing
- Cancer surveillance and regular exams
- Clinical trials
We collaborate with primary care doctors, OB-GYNs and gastroenterologists, who refer their high-risk patients for more advanced evaluation.
Breast Cancer Risk
Our nationally and globally recognized specialists are experts in assessing and researching breast cancer risk, as well as diagnosing and treating the disease. We strive to prevent at-risk patients and their families from getting the disease using the latest technology, clinical trials, screenings and genetic counseling and testing.During your initial visit, you will receive a care plan outlining your lifetime breast cancer risk based on your:
- Genetic screening and counseling session
- Medical and family history review
- Genetic testing, if needed
- Nutrition counseling
Additionally, we provide information about:
- Need for more intensive screenings
- Breast cancer risk reduction options
- Cancer prevention clinical studies
Breast cancer risk factors include:
- An inherited mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes or other specific genes
- A family history of breast cancer or other cancers, such as:
- Radiation exposure to the chest
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk
Our high-risk gastrointestinal cancer program provides risk assessment, personalized screening plans, genetic counseling and testing, when appropriate, as well as nutrition guidance.
Gastrointestinal cancer risk factors include:
- Colorectal cancer diagnosed younger than age 50
- Colorectal cancer at any age with family history of cancers, including:
- Uterine (endometrial) cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Ureter and renal pelvis cancers
- Bile duct cancer
- Brain cancer
- Small intestine cancer
- Diffuse stomach cancer diagnosed younger than age 45
- Family history of diffuse stomach cancer or lobular breast cancer
- Pancreatic cancer diagnosed at a young age
- Pancreatic cancer diagnosed at any age with family history of pancreatic, melanoma or breast cancer
- Multiple polyps
Uterine and Ovarian Cancer Risk
Our high-risk gynecology program provides risk assessment, personalized screening plans, genetic counseling and testing, when appropriate, as well as nutrition guidance.
Uterine (endometrial) cancer and ovarian cancer risk factors include:
- Epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer
- Uterine cancer diagnosed younger than 50
- Uterine cancer diagnosed at any age with family history of cancers, including:
- Colorectal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Ureter and renal pelvis cancers
- Bile duct cancer
- Brain cancer
- Small intestine cancer
