COVID-19 Update: We are continuing to operate and are available for patients. All appointments have been changed to telehealth or phone to help with social distancing. If you carry a high risk gene and have questions about cancer risk management please contact us.
About Peter Mac’s Familial Cancer Centre
Familial cancer services and research aim to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cancers associated with an inherited genetic cause.
As part of the new Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC), Peter Mac, The Royal Melbourne Hospital 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: The Parkville Familial Cancer Centre.
The Parkville Familial Cancer Centre is a comprehensive cancer genetics centre, offering cancer risk assessment, genetic counselling, genetic testing, and medical advice and management, as well as psychological support to individuals and their family members who have concerns about their personal and or family history of cancer.
If you have a strong family history of cancer or have concerns about genetic risk, you may contact the centre directly or seek a referral.
A familial cancer consultation will involve:
- accurate data collection of your family history
- you being provided with information about genetics and inheritance
- genetic testing (where appropriate)
- calculation of your cancer risk based on your family history and/or genetic test results
- your risks being communicated and explained to you
- exploring any psychosocial issues
- recommending strategies for cancer screening, early detection and/or prevention
- provision of cancer risk management.
There are no out-of-pocket costs for patients attending the Familial Cancer Centre.
The Parkville Familial Cancer Centre provides services from:
- Peter Mac’s Parkville VCCC site,
- Peter Mac at Box Hill
- Peter Mac at Bendigo.
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital (City Campus)
- The Western Hospital (Footscray)
- Andrew Love Centre (Geelong Hospital)
- Warrnambool Community Health Centre (Warrnambool Base Hospital)
Contacting the centre will also enable participation in genetic research studies, including projects looking for new cancer predisposition genes, or participate in large research studies such as the VIP: Variants in Practice Study, Australian Ovarian Cancer Study, Lifepool and kConFab.
Referral information
Those patients who self-book will be required to obtain a medical referral for an appointment at the Familial Cancer Centre prior to their first appointment. You can self book by contacting the Familial Cancer Centre by phone.
Medical practitioners wishing to refer a patient to the Familial Cancer Centre can do so by:
- faxing a letter of referral to (03) 8559 5329
- calling (03)8559 5322
Those with appointments will be asked to complete and return a family history questionnaire and an individual medical history form before attending the clinic to assist with initial assessment and advice.
Visit the referrals page for more information
Medicare funded testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genes
The Australian Federal government has approved a Medicare rebate item number for BRCA related genetic testing for women with breast or ovarian cancer, and for the testing of a mutation previously identified in a family (in effect from 1st November 2017).
Frequently asked questions for Patients, GPs and Specialists are available below to download.
Location
Familial Cancer Centre
Level 1, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
305 Grattan Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact
Familial Cancer Centre
Phone: 03 8559 5322
Fax: 03 8559 5329
[email protected]
