Melanie McDermet, M.S.

Melanie McDermet, M.S. is a genetic counselor at Winthrop University Hospital, specializing in cancer, pediatric and prenatal genetics. A prolific community speaker, she has lectured on the topics of cancer and genetics to diverse audiences, including obstetrics and pediatric physicians; prenatal and pediatric patients; other genetic counselors; and high school, college, nursing and physician groups. Ms. McDermet holds a M.S. degree in human genetics from the University of Michigan and is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

What is the difference between genetic and genomic testing?

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 inherited genetic mutation that may increase their risk of [...]

Family Legacies: Hereditary Breast Cancer in Hispanic Women

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 cancer is hereditary, meaning it is due to a genetic mutation passed down from one’s mother or [...]

BRCA Gene Testing: What African American Women Need To Know

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, and sometimes a man’s, risk of [...]

How To Talk To Your Family About Genetic Testing For BRCA & Breast Cancer

With the holidays right around the corner, now is an opportune time to talk to far-flung relatives about breast cancer, other hereditary cancers, BRCA and any genetic testing your relatives may have received. Between a difficult diagnoses and the public nature of a holiday dinner, though, the topic can be tough to bring up, especially [...]