August 31, 2005 -- ARDMORE -- Living Beyond Breast Cancer will hold its next Networking Group meeting, "Genetic Testing: Understanding the Impact on You and Your Family," from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, September 19, at the Philadelphia Marriott West in West Conshohocken.
Some women diagnosed with breast cancer want to find out whether they carry a genetic mutation that increases their risk for developing the disease.
After consulting with a genetic counselor, these women may take a simple blood test, which looks for a genetic abnormality in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The results provide information women can use for treatment decisions. However, the choice to take the test can be complex because the results may impact their life choices and relationships with family members and others.
This networking meeting will review the latest advances in breast cancer genetic research and discuss the purpose and importance of genetic testing.
Speakers Jill D. Siegfried, MS, and Helen L. Coons, PhD, will discuss when to consider genetic testing, the role of the genetic counselor, how to cope with test results, medical and surgical prevention techniques, testing and follow-up care and discrimination laws. This session will benefit women who have had breast cancer, women at risk for developing the disease and family members with concerns about genetic risks.
Ms. Siegfried is a genetic counselor for the cancer risk evaluation program at Joan Karnell Cancer Center, Pennsylvania Hospital. As program coordinator, she offers patient information, performs risk assessments and provides genetic counseling. Dr. Coons is founder and president of Women's Mental Health Associates and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Coons specializes in treating women with breast, gynecological, colon and other cancers.
This program is partially funded by the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event.
To register for this free event, call Amy Grillo at the LBBC office at (610) 645-4567 or e-mail amy@lbbc.org. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is preferred. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided. On-site parking will be available for a $3 fee.
LBBC's Networking Group meets six times each year to focus on the information and psychosocial needs of women diagnosed with breast cancer.
All meetings have a speaker presentation, a question-and-answer session and time for attendees to network and share experiences. Meetings open to the public.
