GENETIC COUNSELING
If you are interested in getting BRCA tested, do speak to your doctor. Alternatively, you may contact our team of genetic counselors for more information.
If you are interested in getting BRCA tested, do speak to your doctor. Alternatively, you may contact our team of genetic counselors for more information.
Genetic counseling is a communication platform for a person who is concerned about the genetic risk of disease (such as hereditary cancers) to discuss his/her personal and family medical history with a genetic counselor. Genetic testing may be provided after genetic counseling as appropriate.1
Genetic counselors are professionals with specialized graduate degrees and experience in medical genetics and counseling. While genetic counselors are not necessarily medical doctors, they work as members of a healthcare team and act as a patient advocate as well as a genetic resource to primary care physicians, other clinicians, and families.2
Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) has a team of genetic counselors who possess the qualifications and experience in providing information about genetic testing, and are able to help patients understand their options. Our research aims to evaluate the psychosocial impact of genetic counseling and testing in Asian families, and to develop new tools to help patients make their decision on whether genetic testing and risk management are appropriate for them.
Genetic counsellors help people understand genetic information. Their role is the identification of families at risk for birth defects, or a genetic condition / disorder.
They help people understand their genetic risks for certain disease or cancer based on family history.
Genetic counsellors guide and support patients seeking more information about:
Genetic counseling can be done face to face or through telephone. A typical conversation with a genetic counsellor might include questions about your family history, discussion of treatment option if a mutation is found, or referral to other resources for help.
Genetic counseling is an important first step to knowing your BRCA status. It is important to have genetic counseling before and after a genetic test in order to determine the following:
With expertise in counseling, genetic counsellors can also provide emotional support as you make decisions and empower you with information for your overall health and wellbeing.
Identifying individuals at increased risk for developing a hereditary breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer is the critical first step in the process of taking measures for early detection of these cancers. Many risk assessment tools, decision aids, and resources are available to help identify people who may be at high risk for hereditary breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. These tools can also be used to understand the risk factors that put individuals at high genetic risk for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Your doctor or genetic counselor can help you understand your risks.
Speak to our team of genetic counselors for more information.
