The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Women’s work together to deliver comprehensive and coordinated familial cancer services across all three hospitals.
Key points
- We deliver comprehensive and coordinated familial cancer services across three hospitals
- We provide risk assessment, genetic counselling and testing
- We provide advice about regular health checks and risk management options
- Arrange an appointment through your GP or by calling us directly
- The Parkville Familial Cancer Centre is a member of the Department of Human Services’ Victoria Family Cancer Genetics Service.
What we do
We provide a range of clinical services to people concerned about their risk of developing a cancer.
We provide services for all areas of familial cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bowel cancer and prostate cancer.
Our services include:
- Risk assessment
- Genetic counselling and testing
- Options for risk management
- Advice about regular health checks
- Psychosocial support
We support research in familial cancer and provide the opportunity to participate in research projects.
Who can use our service
We accept referrals for patients considered at potentially high risk of cancer.
Our clinics
Our main clinics are located at The Royal Melbourne Hospital Parkville campus. We also provide additional services in Geelong and Warrnambool.
Parkville - The Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Familial Cancer - Rare
- Familial Cancer - Bowel
- Familial Cancer - Gynae
- Familial Cancer - Breast
- Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Management clinic
Geelong - Andrew Love Cancer Centre, University Hospital Geelong
Barwon Familial Cancer Clinic (Breast and Bowel)
Warrnambool - South West Healthcare
Warrnambool Familial Cancer Clinic (Breast and Bowel)
Referrals
We accept referrals for patients in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool
Medical practitioners can refer patients to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre by faxing the Familial Cancer referral letter (PDF) to (03) 9342 4267.
Download the referral guidelines (PDF).
Patients in other areas
For patients in the regional areas of Bendigo and Mildura, refer to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
There is a Familial Cancer Centre at the Austin Hospital for patients in the North East of Victoria, at Monash Health for patients in the South East of Victoria.
You can find locations and contact details for Familial Cancer Centres around Australasia on the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) website.
HealthPathways Melbourne provides guidance on best practice assessment and management of common medical conditions, including when and where to refer patients.
Parkville Connect is a secure web-based portal providing GPs, specialists and other health professionals with information in the Parkville electronic medical record (EMR).
Specialised services
Mainstream genetic testing program
The Parkville Familial Cancer Centre coordinates a mainstream genetic testing program for breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
Cancer specialists at participating hospitals can request mainstream genetic testing for eligible patients directly.
To contact a member of the mainstream team, email fccmainstream@petermac.org.
Breast and ovarian cancer
A small number of families have a greater risk of breast and ovarian cancer because they carry an inherited altered gene.
Patients may benefit from contacting us if they meet one or more of the following guidelines (on the same side of the family):
- Multiple close relatives with breast or ovarian cancer
- Family member who developed breast cancer at less than 40 years of age and/or ovarian cancer at less than 50 years of age
- Family member who has had both breast and ovarian cancer or more than one breast cancer
- Male family member with breast cancer
- Family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer and Jewish ancestry
More detailed guidelines for referral can be found at eviQ (one-off free account creation is required).
You can use iPrevent, an online cancer risk assessment tool to help determine whether a referral is appropriate.
For patients who are interested in finding out whether it may be appropriate to attend the Familial Cancer Clinic, see Cancer Australia's Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk calculator. 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
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:
- Multiple close relatives with bowel, uterine and ovarian cancers
- Family member who developed bowel cancer at less than 50 years of age or has had two or more bowel, uterine or ovarian cancers
- Relative with bowel cancer with a large number of adenomas (polyps) throughout the bowel
Use Cancer Victoria's 'Check your cancer risk' tool to help determine whether a referral is appropriate.
Other cancers
Other reasons for patients contacting our service could be:
- Several relatives have the same type of cancer
- Patient’s relative has been found to carry an altered gene
- Patient is concerned about their family history and would like more information
Links & documents
Interpreters and cultural support
We provide qualified, professional interpreters to help you communicate with us at any time during your stay and at your clinic appointments.
- Μάθετε περισότερα γιά διερμηνείς & υποστήριξη κουλτούρας
- Scopri di più sugli interpreti e sul supporto culturale
- Tercümanlar ve kültürel destek hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinmek için
- Tìm hiểu thêm về thông dịch viên và hỗ trợ văn hóa
- 找出更多翻译与文化支持的信息
- لمزيدٍ من المعلومات عن خدمة الترجمة الشفهية والخدمات الثقافية
Referral
A valid referral from your GP or healthcare specialist provider is required to attend our clinic.
When we receive it, one of our team members will review the referral. The next steps may include:
- booking an appointment for you
- contacting you by telephone to get more information
- sending you a family history questionnaire to collect additional information about your family history of cancer if it is known
If the chance of hereditary cancer is low in your family, you will receive an information letter instead of an appointment.
Medicare ineligible patients
A visit to our clinic is publicly funded for individuals holding a valid Medicare card.
Medicare ineligible patients, unless they are an asylum seeker or covered by a reciprocal agreement, will be responsible for all associated costs.
See Patients without a Medicare card for more on costs for Medicare ineligible patients.
Attending appointments with a support person
It is up to you whether you attend your appointments alone or bring someone for support - for example, a partner, family member or friend.
Some people find a support person helpful or want to include a family member as the information may also be relevant to them.
We ask family members and partners to arrange a referral for themselves if their attendance is not solely as support.
Confidentiality
We do not discuss a person’s condition with other relatives unless we have the patient's consent.
What features suggest a possible genetic cause?
The following suggest a possible genetic cause:
- Breast cancer occurring before 40 years of age
- Ovarian cancer at any age
- Male breast cancer at any age
- Multiple close relatives with breast or ovarian cancer
- Multiple close relatives with breast or ovarian cancer and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
- Bowel or uterine cancer occurring before 50 years of age
- Multiple close relatives with bowel, uterine or ovarian cancer
- Multiple bowel polyps
- Multiple relatives who have had the same type of cancer (such as prostate cancer)
- Family histories suggestive of a rare cancer syndrome
Level 2 Centre
300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria
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