Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara Receives $500,000 Grant for Genetic Counseling Program

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara has received a $500,000 grant in support of a genetic counseling program at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.

The Lynch Syndrome, Education and Assessment Program was initiated through a multi-year commitment six years earlier at the recommendation of Richard Gunner, trustee of the Dr. Howard R. Bierman and Anthony Granatelli Fund at the Santa Barbara Foundation.

The goal of the program is identifying and assisting individuals with Lynch syndrome, which is a genetic predisposition to colorectal (colon or rectum), uterine and pancreatic cancers. 

With March signaling the arrival of national Colon Cancer Awareness Month, the magnitude of LEAP hits close to home for Santa Barbara County residents.

Through this charitable grant and stewardship of the Cancer Foundation, genetic counselors at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center are continually able to meet with individuals and families, facilitating important conversations and providing critical screenings.

With the Cottage Hospital pathology department and seed money from the grant, genetic counselors at the Cancer Center were able to establish immunohistochemistry screenings for Lynch syndrome.

This type of screening is also employed in the testing of colorectal and endometrial cancers. 

Colon cancer is very treatable when discovered early.

From moderate to advanced cases, surgery and chemotherapy are often effective. While research is still being conducted on Lynch syndrome and colorectal and pancreatic cancers, early detection is key to prevention.

Through the initial grant for LEAP and collaboration with the Cancer Foundation, residents of Santa Barbara County — regardless of means — are able to meet with genetic counselors, receive regular screenings and gain further education on these forms of cancer at the Cancer Center.

“This grant is changing lives in our community,” said Lori Willis, executive director of the Cancer Foundation. “We are tremendously grateful to Dr. Fred Kass, Director, Medical Oncology at the Ridley Tree Cancer Center, Richard Gunner and the Dr. Howard R. Bierman and Anthony Granatelli Fund at the Santa Barbara Foundation for their foresight in supporting this essential program.”

Thanks to the commitment of Richard Gunner and Howard R. Bierman, M.D., the Cancer Foundation continues to support the genetic counseling team identify, counsel and monitor individuals in Santa Barbara County with Lynch syndrome.

To make a donation to the Cancer Foundation to support genetic counseling, visit www.cfsb.org. For more information about colorectal screenings, contact Lisa Winebrenner at the Cancer Center by calling 805.879.5678.