by Melanie McDermet, M.S. | Jun 17, 2026
You may have had genetic testing done in the past, and while your DNA does not change, technology and scientific understanding continue to evolve. For individuals who have previously been tested, it is appropriate to follow up with a genetic counselor every few years...
by Melanie McDermet, M.S. | Jan 21, 2025
When a healthcare provider suggests genetic testing for a personal or family history of breast cancer, they may say “BRCA testing.” However, this term doesn’t capture the full scope of what genetic testing offers today. The first BRCA tests, introduced in 1996, were...
by Melanie McDermet, M.S. | Jul 24, 2023
As a genetic counselor, I talk about genetic testing with individuals who have a personal or family history of cancer. We discuss the chance that their cancer or their relative’s cancer might be inherited, and review the option of testing to determine if they carry an...
by Melanie McDermet, M.S. | Mar 3, 2022
Knowledge about family history of breast, ovarian and other cancers can help individuals be proactive, prevent cancer, and increase early detection screening, when treatment is minimal. Cancer is usually not an inherited condition. However, approximately 10% of all...
by Melanie McDermet, M.S. | Nov 13, 2020
What are BRCA1 & BRCA2 Genes? While every woman has about a 12% risk to develop breast cancer, the risk is higher when a woman has a variation in a certain gene. In the mid 1990’s, researchers found that mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase a woman’s,...
