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Genetic Counselor Kimberly Banks explains why a cancer survivor should considering genetic testing.
Genetic Counselor Kimberly Banks:
For an individual who has already had cancer, the genetic testing, if it finds something, can one, provide an explanation for why they got cancer, but more importantly, if we identify something genetic, it usually tells us what other cancer risks there may be.
So for a woman who has had breast cancer at a young age, who we facilitate the genetic testing for, if we find something in the breast/ovary genes, then we identify if there’s an increased risk for additional primary breast cancers, as well as for ovarian cancer.
So it does tell us moving forward how closely we need to monitor you as well as, do we need to be monitoring or thinking about other body parts as well that may be at risk for cancer.
Another example would be a woman who has had colon cancer at a young age. If we identified that there’s a hereditary reason for that, it identifies that she may also or that she is also at risk for uterine and ovarian cancer, as well as potentially stomach cancer. So it really is specific to the genetic testing, but it will tell us how well to take care of you moving forward.
About Kimberly Banks, M.S., C.G.C.:
Kimberly Banks, M.S., C.G.C., is the Program Coordinator and a Genetic Counselor at The Cancer Genetics Program in The Center For Cancer Prevention and Treatment at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California. Kimberly received her master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from California State University, Northridge, and conducted her fellowship at City of Hope National Medical Center. She is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Visit Kimberly Banks at St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Genetics Program:
http://www.sjo.org/Clinical_Services/The_Center_for_Cancer_Prevention_and_Treatment/Cancer_Genetics/Our_Experts.aspx