2020 PPP magazine

2020 Paint the Paper Pink Lincoln Daily News October 2020 Page 13 • One or more family members have already had genetic testing that found a mutation. Getting started If cancer runs in your family and you have a reason to think you might benefit from testing, talk with your health care provider and plan to meet with a genetic counselor. Genetic counselors have special training and often graduate degrees in their field. Some doctors, advanced practice oncology nurses, social workers, and psychologists with special training may also do genetic counseling. Your health care provider can probably refer you to a genetic counselor in your area. If not, you can find a list of certified genetic counselors on the websites of the National Society of Genetic Counselors or the National Cancer Institute. A genetic counselor can help you figure out whether testing is right for you and your family. And if you decide to get tested, a genetic counselor can help you interpret the results. Genetic testing results often give limited answers about having increased risk for certain cancers. They can’t tell you whether you will or will not get cancer. This is one reason why counseling is so important. Some genetic test manufacturers advertise and promote their tests to doctors and to the public. Sometimes they can make the test sound much more helpful and decisive than it’s actually proven to be. This can be harmful because decisions about testing may be made based on incomplete information, or even on misleading or wrong information. A genetic counselor can steer you to a reputable lab and help you know what to expect from your test results. More to consider Other family members: Genetic testing results affect not just you; they also affect family members who share your genes. Not everyone might want to know if they are at increased risk. Learning that you or a family member might have an increased cancer risk can be upsetting. The possibility of having a certain genetic mutation or passing on the faulty gene to children can also lead to feelings of guilt or anger. Tests can lead to more tests: In some cases, more medical tests, cancer screenings, or procedures may have to be done as a result of genetic testing. This can be a good thing, if these other tests help keep you free of cancer CONTINUE