Urgent specialist referral form
Use this form for urgent genetic assessment referrals (DOCX,509.5 KB)
The Familial Cancer Centre offers a range of clinical services to people concerned about their risk of developing a cancer due to their family's history of cancer.
We have services for all areas of familial cancer, including breast/ovarian cancer, bowel cancer and prostate cancer:
As part of the new Victorian Compressive Cancer Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Women’s Hospital are partnering to deliver a comprehensive and coordinated Familial Cancer service across the Parkville Precinct.Our clinicians and nursing consultants work across both Peter Mac and The Royal Melbourne Hospital as an integrated service.
Clinics are held in several metropolitan and regional locations in Victoria, including:
We support research in familial cancer and provide the opportunity to participate in research projects.
The RMH Familial Cancer Centre is a member of the Department of Human Services' Victorian Family Cancer Genetics Service.
A small number of families have a greater risk of breast and ovarian cancer because they carry an inherited altered gene.
Your patients may benefit from contacting us if they meet one or more of the following guidelines (on the same side of the family):
More detailed guidelines for referral can be found at eviQ (a one-off free account creation is required).
You can use Cancer Australia's online cancer risk assessment tool to assist in determining whether a referral is appropriate is also available from Cancer Australia.
For patients who are interested in finding out whether it may be appropriate to attend the Familial Cancer Clinic, please see Cancer Australia's Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk calculator.
Please note that this tool is just a guide and we recommend patients have a discussion with their GP as the preferred initial step.
Bowel Cancer is a common condition but in some families the risk is increased due to an inherited predisposition.
Family members who may be at increased risk include those with:
Use Cancer Victoria's online cancer risk assessment tool to assist in determining whether a referral is appropriate.
Other reasons for patient’s contacting our service could be:
We accept referrals for this service.
Referrals are triaged depending on priority. Emergency cases can present to the Emergency & Trauma Service at any time.
To refer a patient, complete and fax your referral to Genetic Medicine on (03) 9342 4267.
You can use the following form or a template from your own system.
Referrals should include:
Consider making referrals indefinite as investigations and genetic testing (where appropriate) can take some time.
We only accept referrals for patients considered at potentially high risk of cancer. Population/moderate risk families may be triaged back to the referring doctor for management if considered appropriate.
Referrals should include relevant personal and/or family history of cancer (noting the reason the person is considered at increased cancer risk).
Use the urgent specialist referral form for urgent genetics assessment.
Address referrals to the head of service, Prof Geoffrey Lindeman.