Research shows that both personal health habits and family history can impact your risk of developing certain types of cancer. The High-Risk Cancer Surveillance Clinic at Overlake offers comprehensive cancer risk assessment, genetic testing, counseling and proactive care plans. “Our goal is to help patients detect if they have a risk for cancer and then develop an individualized program for them,” said Patricia Mathis, ARNP, High-Risk Cancer Surveillance Clinic. With any cancer, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to detection and treatment. This includes care for those who have inherited a mutation that predisposes them to cancer. “The first thing we’ll do is we’ll sit and talk to them about what we feel like is their cancer risk,” said Dr. Emily Wu, gynecologic surgical oncologist at Overlake Cancer Center. “We’ll talk about options there may be for more surveillance to try to detect cancer early or to prevent it, and also specific strategies that we can design individualized to the person in front of us that can actually reduce the risk of or prevent cancer.” Marian von Fuchs is an Overlake patient who was referred to the high-risk clinic and underwent genetic testing because her mom had ovarian cancer at a young age. “Even though I knew it was a possibility, it was still a surprise to me when it came back positive, so it was a little bit overwhelming,” von Fuchs said. “It’s complicated, so I was happy to have Patricia on the team.” Patricia and the Overlake team worked with von Fuchs to create a care plan based on her results. She then had a total hysterectomy performed by Dr. Wu. “I can’t imagine having gone through it without either of them as part of the team,” von Fuchs said. The high-risk clinic utilizes the latest advancements in genetic testing, imaging and cancer screening to offer the most accurate and up-to-date care. The team also offers emotional support and guidance to help patients navigate through the journey. “We see each patient as an individual, so we really tailor our recommendations, and even the way we communicate, to that particular individual,” Dr. Wu said. To get more information about the high-risk clinic and early detection, visit the Overlake website. Sponsored by Overlake Medical Center and Clinic Segment Producer Joseph Suttner. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.