Pancreatic Cancer
Genetic Counseling
Genetic counselor is a health care professional with a master’s degree in human genetics
and counseling. Genetic counseling is a service that helps patients understand the
medical, psychological, and familial impact of genetic disease.
Our board-certified genetic counselor is trained to identify high-risk families and
help them understand their risk of developing pancreatic cancer as well as their
options for prevention, early detection and treatment.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing helps patients and their families learn more about genes. Genetic
testing looks for variations in genes that might lead to disease. Genetic testing
is done for a variety of reasons, such as confirming a disease you are suspected
to have or understanding the cause of a disease that runs in your family. It can
help you understand your individual risk.
Genetic testing may be appropriate if:
- You or a family member have had pancreatic cancer
- You or a family member have had an early onset of pancreatic cancer (diagnosed prior
to age 50)
- You or a family member have been diagnosed with two different cancers or two separate
cancer in the same organ
- Multiple family members on the same side of your family with pancreatic cancer
- You have had 10 or more colorectal polyps found during your colonoscopies
- You have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
- You have a family member who tested positive for a genetic variant related to pancreatic
cancer risk
What To Expect At Your Appointment
A blood or saliva sample will be collected either at your physician's office or in
the comfort of your home. Our genetic counselor and your physician will review results
with you.
Meet Our Genetic Counselor
Sarah Khan, MS, CGC
Sarah is a board-certified Genetic Counselor in Hematology/Oncology. She graduated
from the University of Texas MD Anderson program in 2018. Before moving to Jacksonville,
Sarah started the Cancer Genetics Program at Mary Greeley Hospital in central Iowa.
She loves that her job allows her to support patients through their diagnosis and
empower them to make informed genetic testing decisions.
Contact Us
For more information about scheduling a genetic counseling session, you can:
- Call 904-427-8600, or
- Speak with your healthcare provider about a referral
Related Services
The UF Health Jacksonville Cancer Center offers the following services related
to pancreatic cancer: