Genetic Testing

Genetic counselling and testing for breast cancer patients and high-risk individuals is widely utilized in western countries; in India however it is still in its nascent stages. Most of us are unaware of the medical guidelines for genetic counseling and testing for breast cancer. In India people do not know that a genetic counseling session is essentially a discussion wherein the counselor assesses the person’s family history and with the help of a pedigree chart determines the possibility of hereditary breast cancer risk. Such counseling is also done for many other hereditary cancers and conditions. Many also do not know that a genetic test is just a simple blood test. So I decided to put this book out for the community for the present generation of Indian women to give a basic idea of the hereditary nature of breast cancer. The book gives an overview of genetic counseling and testing explained by the best in the field and how it has revolutionized breast cancer management. I have also included personal stories of amazing strong women I have met during my work to emphasize that even genetic predisposition to breast cancer can be managed.