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Genetic Counseling For Hereditary Cancers

When a family member has been diagnosed with cancer, you may wonder if you’re at increased risk for cancer yourself. One in three people will develop cancer in their lifetime, so it’s not uncommon to see several family members who have had cancer due to chance or a shared environment. However, 5-10% of cancers are associated with an inherited factor that predisposes a person to cancer—especially breast, ovarian and colorectal. If these hereditary cancers run in your family, different screening and management options may be available to you.

If you’re concerned about your family history of cancer, genetic counseling may help. A referral to a cancer genetic counselor does not mean you have a “hereditary” cancer; it simply means your physician feels it’s important to gather more information about your personal and family history of cancer. Our genetic counselors are certified professionals, trained and educated at the master's degree level. We can help you understand scientific, medical, and genetic information relating to a personal and/or family history of cancer.

Highlights & Resources

Providers

  • Madison Bernhardt, LCGC

    Madison N. Bernhardt, CGC

    Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancers

    Biography

    Madison Bernhardt, MS, CGC specializes in hereditary predispositions to cancer and hematologic conditions. She meets with adults and children who have a personal or family history of cancer to help them understand if there may be an inherited component.

    Madison earned her bachelor's degree in biology and master's degree in genetic counseling both from Ohio State University. She is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Emily Fassi, CGC

    Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancers

    Biography

    Emily Fassi, MS, CGC sees children and adults for hereditary predispositions to cancer and hematologic conditions. She is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and licensed by the State of Idaho. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.

    Emily earned her bachelor's degree in biology with minors in chemistry and French from Truman State University, and her master's degree in genetic counseling from Northwestern University.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Maggie C. Hendrix, CGC

    Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancers

    Biography

    Maggie Hendrix, MS, CGC sees children and adults for hereditary predispositions to cancer and hematologic conditions. She is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and licensed by the State of Idaho. She is a member of the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) and a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC). She is also a member of the NSGC Cancer Genetics Special Interest Group.

    Maggie earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in genetics from Texas A&M University. She earned her master’s degree in genetic counseling from the MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

  • Claire E. Hillier, CGC

    Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancers

    Biography

    Claire Hillier, MS, GC specializes in hereditary predispositions to cancer and hematologic conditions. She meets with adults who have a personal or family history of cancer to help them understand if they may have a hereditary predisposition to developing certain types of cancer. She finds it fulfilling to engage families in shared decision-making processes as to whether genetic testing makes sense for them, as it can help us find an explanation for the cancer, better understand future cancer risks, expand treatment options and allow us to initiate risk reduction strategies for patients and their family members.

    Claire earned her bachelor's degree in human biology at Stanford University and master's degree in genetic counseling from the University of Washington. Outside of work, she enjoys playing cello and hiking with her dogs.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Claire A. Masterson, CGC

    Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancers

    Biography

    Claire Masterson, MS, CGC specializes in hereditary predispositions to cancer and hematologic conditions. She meets with individuals who have a personal or family history of cancer to help them understand if there may be an inherited component. She is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) and licensed by the State of Idaho. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC).

    Claire earned her bachelor's degree in cellular and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry from Westmont College, and her master's degree in genetic counseling from Keck Graduate Institute.

  • Suzanne Poulson, CGC

    Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancers

    Biography

    Suzanne Poulson, MS, CGC specializes in hereditary predispositions to cancer. She meets with individuals who have a personal or family history of cancer to help them understand if there may be an inherited component.

    Suzanne earned her master's degree in genetic counseling from University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     
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