Mary is a Fightin’ Texas Aggie and earned her Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Cincinnati. And with good reason: genetic test results are intensely personal. You’ll often find her reading cookbooks like novels and writing about her family’s foodie gene on her blog. … Get stories just like it, delivered right to your inbox. How exactly can genetic test results be tricky when it comes to sharing them? You can find a genetic counselor in your area at www.nsgc.org (USA) or https://www.cagc-accg.ca (Canada). in Genetic Counseling from University of California, Irvine, Selvi was a researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at University of Michigan. One of the biggest things to remind yourself is why you’re sharing them. With 100+ genetic counselors and other medical experts with clinical genomic experience on staff, Ambry has completed more than one million tests, contributed to over 200 peer-reviewed publications, and continued to offer a comprehensive test menu in Oncology, Neurology, Cardiology, and Rare Disease. They can have genetic testing to determine whether they also have increased risks for certain types of cancer (and if so, what they can do about it) or if they have the average risk for cancer and most likely don’t need to be taking extra precautions. You’ll often find her reading cookbooks like novels and writing about her family’s foodie gene on her blog. As a genetic counselor specializing in cancer genetics, I’m happy to be contributing to the Ambry patient blog during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Mary Pritzlaff is a Cancer Reporting Supervisor at Ambry Genetics. Our best-in-class variant assessment program is dedicated to resolving VUS to give you and your patients more clarity. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog. +RNAinsight®: Finding Answers for More Patients - A Year in Review, Contribution of Germline Predisposition Gene Mutations to Clinical Subtypes of Breast Cancer, Call or meet face-to-face: If you have a close relationship with a family member, this might be a good option. She has been a member of the Ambry team since 2014, specializing in variant assessment and reporting. Our team is made up of Statisticians & Bioinformatics, Lab Directors, Variant Scientists, Structural Biologists, and Genetic Counselors. Your doctor or genetic counselor can evaluate your family history to determine if you should consider genetic testing for inherited forms of colorectal cancer. As a genetic counselor specializing in cancer genetics, I’m happy to be contributing to the Ambry patient blog during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Ambry’s CARE for COVID Program™ will help OC residents to make informed decisions about testing, frequency of wellness checks, and health management In a press conference held on November 17, 2020, Vice Chairman Andrew Do of the Orange County Board They might come around with time. One of the biggest things to remind yourself is why you’re sharing them. If you test positive for a Lynch syndrome gene mutation, your doctor will recommend starting your colonoscopies earlier, usually starting between ages 25-35. Learn more today. The good news is that the challenges you face might be temporary – sometimes, people just need time to adjust to the new information you’re telling them. BR J Cancer. And for those who do understand, you could make a very meaningful difference to them. Reliance on any information appearing on this blog is solely at your own risk. You will be able to discuss the pros and cons of various options and work with your healthcare provider to develop a plan that is best for you. You can not only search our gene testing catalog by disease, but you can search it by test code and gene as well. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this blog are for informational purposes only. When hearing your genetic testing results, one of the first things you will learn is whether your results are positive, negative, or variant of unknown significance (VUS). These results can change everything, as you probably already know. Ambry is committed to delivering accurate genetic test results for hereditary cancer. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog. Subscribe *We handle your contact details in line with our Privacy Policy.You can opt-out of communications or customize your preferences at any time. Ambry is committed to delivering the most accurate genetic test results possible. Give them what they need: Your exact test result, with the gene and any mutation(s) found, is what relatives need if they want to do their own testing. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider for a copy of your genetic test results and have them walk you through the important points of the report. And for those who do understand, you could make a very meaningful difference to them. Learn more about our products today. It’s important to share a copy of your test results with your family members so that their healthcare providers know what type of genetic test they need. You can find examples in the Patient Guides, Be supportive, but not pushy: Your relative may be hearing this information for the first time, which can be challenging, Give them space: Time may help them digest the details, Offer to be available and share resources: They might need your help to answer questions, or just to listen. In the end, your genetic test results should help you and your family understand if you have an increased risk for cancer, what those risks are, and what options you have to reduce your risk. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Some people love information, and some loathe it. Prior to gaining her M.S. You might also consider techniques that Theresa Smith offered in her post here. 2014 Mar 18;110(6):1663-72. They might come back a little later, ready to hear what you have to say. I feel funny writing about sharing genetic test results with family when I’ve never done it myself, but don’t let that stop you from reading… I’ll draw upon my years in the clinic as a genetic counselor, Well, they can change your relationships with your family members. Ambry Genetics drives innovation in diagnostics by launching cutting-edge genetic tests and technologies.