Genetic counseling

During an appointment, you will meet with one of Medical City Plano’s board-certified genetic counselors to discuss your personal and family history, how genetic testing results could impact you and your family, and options for genetic testing.

If pursued, genetic testing is performed on a blood or saliva test. Due to a possible saliva collection, patients are asked not to eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum 30 minutes prior to their appointment times.

Genetic testing results typically take two to three weeks to be available. Your genetic counselor will call you with your results and either discuss these results over the phone or schedule a follow-up appointment. Genetic testing results will be shared with you and your referring provider.

Approximately 1 in 10 cancers have a genetic or inherited cause that can run through families.

Hereditary cancer genetic testing looks for inherited genetic changes, or mutations, that increase development risk. Test results can help explain why some families develop cancer more frequently than others, identify which relatives are at a higher risk for cancer, and recommend strategies to be proactive with screening and management. In some situations, genetic testing can be lifesaving and can give families the tools for early detection or to reduce their risk of developing certain cancers.

A personal or family history of young cancer (under age 50), multiple generations with the same type of cancer, rare cancers, or three or more family members with cancer on the same side of the family may warrant genetic testing.

If a genetic predisposition to cancer is detected, treatment options such as earlier and more frequent screening, medications or surgery may be recommended. If you know you have an inherited genetic predisposition to cancer, it can help you and your doctor:

• Understand your specific risk of developing certain types of cancer
• Explain a previous personal or family history of cancer
• Determine the best cancer screening plans for you
• Determine if any preventative or prophylactic surgeries may be considered
• Make informed decisions about your treatment and continued care

Genetic testing has historically been underutilized; however, results can impact an individual’s diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment recommendations. Identifying genetic changes or mutations can lead to gene-based cancer screening and treatment, which is individualized to that specific genetic risk. Additionally, knowing about genetic predispositions can be beneficial.

Hereditary cancer genetic counseling and testing may be recommended when there is a personal or family history of:

• Cancer before age 50
• Rare cancers and tumors at any age
• Multiple generations of the same type of cancer
• Patterns of certain types of cancer in families
• Other indications, such as:
  • Families with a known genetic risk or mutation
  • Individuals with multiple primary cancers
  • Ten or more colon polyps
  • Metastatic or aggressive prostate cancer
  • Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry with a history of breast or prostate cancer

At least 1 in 200 people have an inherited or genetic form of heart disease that can run through families. Early detection can be lifesaving.

Cardiovascular genetic testing looks for inherited genetic changes or mutations that increase the risk for specific types of heart disease. Test results can help explain why some families develop heart disease more frequently than others, identify which relatives are at a higher risk and recommend strategies for cardiac screening and management. In some situations, cardiovascular genetic testing can be lifesaving and can give families the tools to be proactive to reduce their risk of developing certain heart diseases.

A personal or family history of young heart disease (under age 60), multiple generations with heart disease, sudden cardiac arrests or sudden cardiac death in the family, or three of more family members with heart disease on the same side of the family may warrant hereditary cardiovascular genetic testing.

If a genetic predisposition is detected, treatment options such as medications, increased cardiac screening, cardiac devices, surgery, and/or the avoidance of certain triggers may be recommended. If you know you have an inherited genetic predisposition to heart disease, it can help you and your healthcare provider:

• Understand your specific risk of developing certain forms of heart disease
• Determine the best screening plans for you
• Confirm or explain a previous diagnosis
• Make informed decisions about your treatment and continued care

Genetic testing can impact an individual’s diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment recommendations. Identifying genetic changes or mutations can lead to gene-based treatment, which is individualized to that specific genetic predisposition. Two-thirds of positive findings on genetic testing may change cardiac management and monitoring strategies.

Major organizations such as the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and Heart Rhythm Society recommend cardiovascular genetic testing and genetic counseling if there is a personal or family history of cardiomyopathy, certain arrhythmias, aortic aneurysms and dissections, lipid disorders, and/or sudden cardiac arrest or death.

Hereditary cardiovascular genetic counseling and testing may be recommended when there is a concern for:

• Cardiomyopathy
• Arrythmia
• Aortopathy
• Lipid disorders
• TTR amyloidosis
• Personal history of sudden cardiac arrest
• Family history of sudden cardiac arrest or death

Genetic carrier screening is available to every person planning to start a family and every pregnant person. Carrier screening helps determine the chance to have a child with a serious genetic condition before or during pregnancy.

Many people do not know they are a carrier for an inherited genetic condition until they have an affected child. While there is no test that can screen for all possible genetic conditions or birth defects, genetic carrier screening can give you information to make reproductive choices that are right for you and your family.

Everyone is a carrier of at least one genetic condition regardless of ethnicity, background, or family history. Most carriers are healthy, with no signs or symptoms of a genetic condition, and with no family history of genetic disorders, but they are able to pass a genetic condition to their child.

Carrier screening can screen for many genetic conditions, including autosomal recessive and X-linked genetic conditions, with one simple test to determine if you carry a genetic change, or mutation, that can impact your child.

Most conditions detected by carrier screening are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, which means that each biological parent would need to be a carrier of the same genetic condition to have a child with that condition. Carrier screening can help you and your partner learn if you are both carriers for the same genetic condition and at risk of passing on this genetic condition to your child. With each pregnancy, if partners are both carriers for the same genetic condition, there is a 25% (one in four) chance of having an affected child with this disorder.

If you are a carrier for a specific recessive condition, your partner would be recommended to also have carrier screening for the condition to determine the chance of having an affected pregnancy.

When performed before conceiving, genetic carrier screening can provide actionable knowledge and the opportunity to pursue alternative reproductive options. Carrier screening during pregnancy can help couples decide on prenatal or infant diagnostic testing, determine pregnancy management, and potentially help them prepare emotionally, medically, and financially for a baby affected by a genetic condition.

Carrier screening may be recommended for:

• Family planning
• Family history of a genetic condition
• Partner is a known carrier for a genetic condition
• Egg or sperm donors

Patients could have two separate bills for genetic counseling and testing, one for the genetic counseling appointment and one for the genetic testing.

Insurance companies often cover genetic counseling and genetic testing for patients who meet their insurance provider’s criteria for testing. Eligibility for genetic testing coverage depends on a combination of medical and family history. Your genetic counselor can provide more details on potential costs for genetic testing.

If an individual does not meet insurance criteria, they may still choose to proceed with genetic testing, through a self-pay option. Out of pocket costs for genetic counseling and testing depend on your specific insurance plan, deductible, copays and coinsurance.

Your provider can send a referral to the Medical City Plano genetics clinic to start the appointment process.

If you have questions regarding coordinating a genetics referral, genetic counseling, genetic testing, insurance coverage, or setting up an appointment, please contact us.

Phone: (972) 396-4073
Fax: (469)-484-0605
Email Medical City Plano Genetics