Among the holiday gifts this season, folks may have received the popular genetic testing kits to help them learn more about their family history.
While these kits can be interesting and help spark conversations with families, people should be aware that the information revealed is only a small part of the picture.
“Some health conditions run in families, and it can be important to know what your risks are,” said Heather Willems, certified genetic counselor at the ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center. “While these kits are a place to start, patients should not rely on these tests alone for accurate information.”
Willems said that it is important to consult with a certified genetic counselor to analyze health history information, especially for people whose immediate family members have had serious health conditions. ThedaCare offers genetic testing and counseling at the Regional Cancer Center in Appleton and at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. Staff includes three genetic counselors and three genetic counseling assistants.
“Genetic counseling can help you gain a better understanding of the health information you’ve discovered with ancestry testing or from talking to relatives,” she said. “Genetic counselors review your medical and family history to determine your risk of developing a specific medical condition. From there, we can help guide you through next steps, using the valuable information to help make informed health decisions.”
During a consultation with a genetic counselor, patients are walked through a series of health questions to help determine the risk of developing various conditions. The genetic counselor may ask about which family members have certain health conditions, how early in life these conditions developed, the gender of family members with the condition, any notable combinations of diseases, their own current health habits and many other contingencies that all play a role in their risk.
“Your family history can hold a lot of clues that point toward conditions for which you may be at higher risk, and genetic counseling can help you note areas where prevention measures can be taken,” Willems said.
For those patients who are at higher risk for health conditions such as certain cancers, patients may receive recommendations to start screenings at an earlier age, or to undergo genetic testing to help reveal more information about risks. Genetic counselors also can provide referrals to specialists who may recommend additional action, such as more frequent testing or preventive surgery.
As a comprehensive health care system dedicated to individualized care, ThedaCare teams work to understand each person’s unique medical background, risks, lifestyle, values and goals. Willems said that genetic testing one way that patients and care teams can be proactive in care, helping predict and prevent disease before complications arise.
People should also understand that at-home genetic tests search for some — but not all — variants of disease. For instance, if people have a relative who had breast cancer, they may wonder about the “breast cancer gene,” or the BRCA mutation. Some tests can search for the most common BRCA gene mutations that can indicate a greater risk of developing breast and other cancers. Willems noted there are many, many variants in the BRCA gene that will not show up on these basic tests.
“You should not rely on at-home tests to tell you whether or not you are ‘safe’ from developing certain cancers or other conditions, especially if you have a family history of certain diseases,” Willems said. “Consulting with a certified genetic counselor and getting tested through a medical facility is a better way to gain that information.”
Family history can inspire health action
