What Can I Expect During a Genetic Counseling Session?

It's natural to worry about a breast cancer diagnosis given that it’s the second most common type of cancer in women in the United States. Fortunately, there are steps you can take — including genetic testing — to better determine your risk and take control of your health journey.

At The Breast Place in North Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Jennifer Beatty and our highly qualified team work hand-in-hand with our patients, providing state-of-the-art care as well as support and hope for women experiencing health challenges. Here’s what you should know about our genetic counseling services.

Breast cancer risk

Women not only have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime,but breast cancer is also women’s second leading cause of cancer death. The risk can be even greater for women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer.

Genetic testing

Genetic testing checks for changes in genes, known as mutations, that can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. This test looks for certain mutations known to be related to cancer, including BRCA1 and BRCA2.

It’s important to note that testing results aren’t absolute. They can rule out certain genetic mutations, but there may be other mutations that weren’t tested for. In addition, most breast cancers are not hereditary.

Genetic counseling

A genetic counseling session can help determine a woman's chance of breast cancer and whether she and her family would benefit from genetic testing. We typically cover several topics.

Risk

Risk is determined by multiple factors, including a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer, being of Ashkenazi or Eastern European Jewish ancestry, and whether a family member has been diagnosed with a known breast cancer mutation gene.

Logistics

Testing specifics can include which genes to look for, logistics such as whether blood or saliva is used and where the testing will take place, and what to expect in terms of timing for the results.

Implications

A positive test result doesn’t just impact a woman, but also her family and their risk of cancer. Your counselor can help talk through this aspect of testing as well.

Results

Your counselor can go over the findings and what they mean at a follow-up appointment. In the case of a negative test, they can incorporate the results with a woman's personal and family history to provide a better sense of risk. If the test is positive, they can discuss next steps for the patient and her relatives.

If you're worried about your risk of breast cancer and want to determine whether genetic testing is right for you, meeting with a genetic counselor can help. Book an appointment online or call the office today at 843-797-1941.