Genetic counselors play key role in health care
By Santa Ynez Valley Star Staff · Tue Mar 17 2020
Staff Report
Genetic counselors have specialized education in genetics and counseling to provide personalized support to patients as they make decisions about their genetic health, and they are dedicated to helping the community understand the important role they play in health care.
The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center’s Genetic Counseling Program in Santa Barbara has three genetic counselors on staff to help patients and families with a history of cancer understand and manage their cancer risk.
Although most cancer is not inherited, about 5-10 percent of people with cancer have a hereditary form, or a predisposition to cancer. Hereditary cancers occur because of a change (mutation) in certain genes.
Pursuing genetic counseling may be beneficial to your family if your or any of your relatives: