Find a Genetics Service
Family Cancer Services
What is a family cancer?
It is not uncommon for more than one member of a family to have cancer. Cancer can occur in familes:
- just by chance (mostly the case)
- because family members have environmental and lifestyle influences in common (eg: too much sun or smoking)
- because there is an inherited faulty gene causing an increased chance of cancer (uncommon)
- More about cancer and genetics
What do Family Cancer Clinics provide?
Family Cancer Clinics provide counselling and information for families with a history of cancer on:
- inheriting cancer
- individual risk
- screening
- cancer risk reduction strategies.
They also provide genetic testing where appropriate.
The clinics are conducted through the public hospital system and there is no direct cost to the patient for consultation or genetic testing.
Who attends a Family Cancer Clinic?
The types of families often referred to a clinic are:
- families with three or more individuals with a specific type of cancer – often breast/ovarian or bowel cancer.
- individuals with multiple cancers or cancers diagnosed at an unusually young age.
How can you attend a Family Cancer Clinic?
There are two ways you can attend a clinic:
- Your GP, physician or surgeon may refer you to a clinic;
- You can call one of the Family Cancer Clinics to discuss an appointment.
When you attend a clinic you may see a Genetic Counsellor, Medical Geneticists and other medical specialists depending on the type of cancer.
Select the area below to view Specialised Familial Cancer Services in that State/Territory:
New South Wales | ACT | Northern Territory | Queensland | Victoria | Tasmania | Western Australia | New Zealand
New South Wales - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
Camperdown |
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital |
Darlinghurst |
St Vincent’s Hospital |
Kogarah |
St George Hospital |
| Liverpool | Department of Clinical Genetics Locked Mail Bag 7103, Liverpool BC NSW 1871 Tel: (02) 9828 4680 Fax: (02) 9828 4650 |
Newcastle and rural outreach services |
Hunter Family Cancer Service |
Penrith |
Nepean Hospital |
Randwick |
Prince of Wales Hospital |
St Leonards |
Royal North Shore Hospital |
Westmead |
Westmead Hospital |
Wollongong |
Wollongong Hospital |
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
Canberra |
The Canberra Hospital |
Northern Territory - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
There are currently no clinical genetics services offered in the Northern Territory. Support and information may be available through other specialty services, and from a general medical practitioner.
Queensland - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
Herston |
Genetic Health Queensland |
Brisbane |
Brisbane North Breast Cancer Family Clinic |
Queensland - Familial Cancer Register
Herston |
Queensland Familial Bowel Cancer Registry |
South Australia - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
North Adelaide |
Women's and Children's Hospital |
Tasmania - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
Hobart |
Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service |
Victoria - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
Parkville |
Royal Melbourne Hospital |
Parkville |
Royal Children’s Hospital |
Melbourne |
Peter MacCullum Cancer Institute |
Clayton |
Familial Cancer Centre |
Victoria - Familial Cancer Register
Carlton |
Victorian Family Cancer Register |
Western Australia - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
Subiaco |
Familial Cancer Program |
Western Australia - Familial Cancer Register
Subiaco |
Familial Cancer Register |
New Zealand - Specialised Familial Cancer Services
Auckland |
New Zealand Familial Bowel Cancer Register |
Christchurch |
Southern Familial Bowel Cancer Register |