What is the difference between genetic counseling and genetic testing?
Genetic counseling is a conversation with a trained genetic counselor about you and your family’s health history and other factors known to have an impact on your cancer risks. For example, if you have a family history of cancer, are of Eastern European descent or if you’ve had a breast biopsy in the past, you may be at a higher risk for breast cancer—and we can help you manage that hereditary cancer risk. You will also learn more about how the information from genetic testing could be used to develop a cancer screening plan tailored to your specific needs and risk level. Genetic testing is when a person’s DNA is sent to a laboratory and analyzed for the presence of a genetic mutation, such as the BRCA1 gene and the BRCA2 gene. In most cases, this involves obtaining a blood sample; however, a saliva sample may be obtained for some tests. There are some genetic studies that are performed on the DNA in tumor cells. In these cases, tissue blocks from the tumor are sent to the laboratory.
