In the spring of 2013, I met with my new OB/GYN for a routine exam, and we discussed my family health history. I’d never really thought about my genetic risk for breast cancer. I knew my maternal grandmother had had breast cancer but hers was the only case in the family.
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When I explain my job as a genetic counselor to family members or people I talk with while traveling, they are always surprised to learn that I meet with patients only one or two times. Some patients may have annual follow-up visits with their genetic counselor and geneticist
Take matters into your own hands is a phrase we frequently hear in everyday society. Whether it’s health, work, family or an unexpected situation, many people are tested daily to take control of their own lives. Sometimes people may not know where to begin to get help from others.
The following article is a part of the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ patient blog post series. Written by real patients, these stories share a glimpse into the sometimes complicated world of genetics and the role a genetic counselor can play in helping people navigate their healthcare.
If you’ve been reading the news, you know that last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the marketing of 23andMe Personal Genome Service Genetic Health Risk tests for 10 genetic diseases or conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and celiac diseases. What you may not know is
Approximately 7 million ancestry tests have been ordered by curious consumers, most of those in the past few years. That’s a lot of DNA! While many people may choose ancestry testing to find out more about their ethnic background, that’s just one result that can come from an online DNA test.
Direct-to-consumer genetic tests – kits you buy in a drug store or online and involve mailing a saliva sample – have been around for about 10 years, and they are getting more and more attention. While taking the test is simple, understanding the results and living with the knowledge genetic testing brings is not. Are these tests right for you?
On a recent flight, I sat next to a passenger* who asked what I did for a living. After telling her I am a genetic counselor who specializes in hereditary cancers, the conversation turned into a curbside consult about her family health history. It ended with a big surprise for her.
Why take heredity to heart? It’s simple – heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women, and is highly preventable! It’s also quite common to have a hereditary predisposition to heart disease in your genes.
Editor’s note: The following article is a part of the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ new patient blog post series. Written by real patients, these stories share a glimpse into the sometimes complicated world of genetics and the role a genetic counselor can play in helping people navigate their healthcare