November 9th is Genetic Counselor Awareness Day

By Taylor Carter, MS, CGC

Genetic Counselor Awareness Day is dedicated to raise awareness and interest about genetic counselors in communities and institutions, and to help consumers understand the important and supportive roles of genetic counselors in health care.

What do genetic counselors do?

Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals with advanced training in medical genetics and psychosocial counseling who partner with patients seeking information about inherited conditions affecting them or their families. Genetic counselors work in a variety of specialties, including cancer, prenatal, and general/pediatric genetics. A genetic counselor works with patients and their providers to:

• Explore personal and family health history to better understand genetic risks

• Discuss the medical and emotional implications of genetic information

• Determine if genetic testing is appropriate for patients and their families

What is the genetic counselor’s role on the oncology team?

Cancer genetic counselors meet with patients who have a personal or strong family history of cancer to assess their medical and family history and discuss relevant genetic testing options. Some people have a hereditary cancer syndrome that makes them more susceptible to cancer. Genetic testing can help determine this, which provides individuals and their families with knowledge about their risk for cancer and guides future screening or management recommendations.

Who should consider genetic counseling for hereditary cancer syndromes?

Doctors often refer patients for cancer genetic counseling if they have one of the following “red flags” in their family history:

• Three relatives (related by blood) on the same side of the family with similar or related cancers

• Individual or a family member with two or more different cancers

• Individual or a family member with cancer at a younger age than expected (often less than age 50)

• Non-cancerous findings suggesting a recognized genetic condition (i.e., multiple colon polyps)

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• A known cancer-related mutation in the family

• Rare cancers or cancer in the less commonly affected sex (e.g., male breast cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma)

In addition, all individuals with a personal history of triple negative breast cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, or ovarian cancer, are eligible for genetic testing.

Talk to your doctor if you are interested in genetic counseling and testing.

Where can I find a genetic counselor?

MaineHealth has prenatal, pediatric/adult, and cancer genetic counselors. If you are interested in cancer genetic counseling, our MaineHealth cancer genetic counselors can be found at:

MMC Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic, Located at 100 Campus Drive in Scarborough

Phone: 207-396-7270

For more information on genetic counseling or to find a genetic counselor near you, visit https://www.aboutgeneticcounselors.org/