The Importance of Genetic Counseling

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer impacts approximately 2.1 million people per year. The good news is we know a lot about treating cancer successfully. That’s why it’s so important to stay on top of your breast cancer screening and diagnostic test schedule. The focus of genetic counseling is to educate the patient and their family.

Genetic counseling for breast cancer risk is recommended when one or more of the following apply:

Breast cancer is associated with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry (Jewish descent with ancestors from Eastern Europe).

Breast cancer is associated with other cancers in the family, such as ovarian, pancreatic, uterine or thyroid.

Breast cancer occurs in more than one person in the family.

Breast cancer occurs in someone in the family prior to age 45.

Breast cancer occurs in a male person in the family.

A person is diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 45.