Cascade Screening

Cascade Screening Connector

If you are diagnosed with a hereditary cancer syndrome, such as Lynch Syndrome or Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome, your family members may also be at risk. The Cascade Screening Connector can help you identify which of your family members are at higher risk for the same conditions. The service will identify at-risk family members and offer to connect them to appropriate health services.

Anyone in Washington State can reach the Cascade Screening Connector by phone at 360-524-6577, our toll-free number at 800-364-1641, by email at CSC@geneticsupport.org, or visit the Genetic Support Foundation website. Phone services are currently available in English, Español – Spanish, and 中文 – Chinese.

Rack cards with information are available in English, Español – Spanish, and 中文 – Chinese. Healthcare providers and clinics may request printed copies of these rack cards at no charge by emailing genetics@doh.wa.gov.

If you are at risk for a hereditary cancer syndrome, you should speak with your health care provider. See our map of genetics clinics in Washington State.

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What is cascade screening?

Some genetic conditions can be passed from parent to child, generation to generation, affecting multiple family members. Cascade screening is a way to identify and test the relatives of people who have particular genetic conditions that may “run in the family,” such as Lynch Syndrome and Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome.

When a person is diagnosed with one of these conditions, their family members are at heightened risk for that condition too. Unlike some other genetic conditions, Lynch Syndrome and Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome are “autosomal dominant” conditions. This means there is a 50% chance of a parent passing on the condition to their child.

That's why it's so important to talk with relatives about getting screened. Cascade screening gives health care professionals a chance to detect these conditions early and provide appropriate medical recommendations. Those at risk often include first- and second-degree biological relatives such as parents, siblings, children, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, grandparents, grandchildren, and half-siblings. If you or a family member is diagnosed with a genetic condition, talk with your health care provider about the condition and cascade screening.