Genetic Counseling: Helping You Understand and Manage Your Cancer Risk

Some cancers are linked to certain genetic mutations. You may want to think about having genetic testing if you or a family member have been diagnosed with:

• Breast cancer before age 50.
• Breast cancer in both breasts (bilateral breast cancer).
• Colorectal cancer before age 50.
• Endometrial cancer before age 50.
• Male breast cancer.
• Metastatic prostate cancer.
• Ovarian cancer.
• Pancreatic cancer.

You may also consider genetic testing if you have:

• A relative with a BRCA gene mutation.
• Family members of Ashkenazi Jewish descent who have had breast cancer at any age.
• More than one family member with the same kind of cancer.
• Several family members who had cancer at a young age.

If you believe you could benefit from a hereditary risk assessment, discuss with your physician. If the two of you decide you are an appropriate candidate, your physician will refer you to our genetic services. Our program is run by board-certified, licensed genetic counselors, and is the largest in the region.

During this appointment, you’ll talk about your personal and family health history so it’s helpful to prepare this ahead of time. The licensed genetic counselor will discuss options for you and your family. These may include further genetic testing, possible changes to medical screening procedures and frequencies, and other risk reducing options.

If genetic testing is deemed appropriate, we’ll refer you to one of the ProMedica hospitals that has genetic testing services. We have nine genetic testing locations in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Once your test results are ready, we’ll go over the results together and come up with a plan for screening and prevention. The genetic counselor will send this plan to your doctor.

Prevention plans are different for everyone. They may include starting cancer screenings early, such as mammograms or colonoscopies. Some people also consider preventive surgery. Your genetic counselor will go over all your choices and will answer any questions you have along the way.

Many health insurance plans pay for genetic tests. But you should still check with your own health plan company. Our preauthorization team can help you figure out whether your health plan covers the tests.

Yes. Genetic tests can help you and your doctor understand your true risk for a hereditary cancer syndrome. These tests can help you make the best choices to screen and prevent cancer.

Yes. Federal law prevents discrimination against people based on their genetic information. Most states also have similar discrimination laws.

Genetic test results are completely confidential. Even when health plans pay for tests, the health plan company won’t get the results. We won’t give the test results to anyone unless we have your written permission.

The person who has been diagnosed with cancer should be the first person to have genetic testing. But, if this person can’t be tested, we can test another family member.

Yes. Scientists have found more genes that cause hereditary cancer syndromes. Based on your health history, you may want to have more testing.

Yes. Both mothers and fathers can pass a hereditary cancer syndrome to their children. Men can also take steps to lower their cancer risk or find cancer early.