Background In 2005 the Health Department of the Valencia (Spain), implemented a program of familial cancer. The objective of this program is to reduce cancer incidence and mortality in those with a known genetic predisposition. Through Genetic Counselling Units in Cancer (UCGC) a multidisciplinary team provides information, recommendations and follow-up more appropriate for the patient and family.

Method Descriptive analysis from the start of the program in May 2005 to December 2010, through indicators of organisation and effectiveness: number of people who come to the UCGC, average size of families, rates, appropriate referrals, families with identified mutations, and distribution of the gene results for index cases and family.

Results 9.942 people have been treated, 870 was referred from primary care and 9.072 from specialty care. 79% of the consultations met criteria for genetic studies. The 59% related to the syndrome of breast and ovarian cancer and 32% relative to the HNPCC syndrome. Some case index was identified from 3.083 families (78.7%) and in 91.3% of them have done a genetic study. Pathogenic mutations were detected in 21.8% of these studies. Study is offered to families where pathogenic mutation has been found. The percentage of pathogenic mutations diagnosed in family is approximately 54%.

Conclusions The diagnosis and genetic counselling in cancer, as part of an organised program intended to diagnose early-stage disease or prevent it. To make an assessment of the impact of this program on the health of the population would need to follow the very long term.