Welcome to the Yale Cancer Center Genetic Counseling Program newsletter. Generations is a bi-annual publication written to provide the latest information on cancer genetic counseling and supportive care concerns. We hope you find this issue of generations helpful and welcome your suggestions for future topics.

In this issue:

Kathy's Story:
 Dedicated to tomorrow's growth



Kathy didn't have a family history of breast cancer, at least that she knew of. Her mother had never been for a mammogram and both of her Grandmothers' passed from old age before the advent of annual mammograms. So at age 36, she asked her OB/GYN for a baseline mammogram, and that mammogram was normal.
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Ovarian Cancer Pathology Plays a Key Role

in Deciphering Genetic Test Results


There are several risk factors that help determine if the cancers in a family are hereditary and the presence of ovarian cancer is a well-established risk factor for hereditary cancers. It now appears that the type of ovarian cancer also plays an important role. When an ovarian tumor is removed it is sent to a pathology lab for microscopic inspection. The lab issues a report that describes the type of tumor and its size and characteristics. This pathology report can provide important information in the genetic counseling process.
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ACLU
 Patient Announcement


The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is interested in hearing from you if you have been advised to get the BRCA genetic test...
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News Brief: Sexuality Program


The Connecticut Challenge Survivorship Clinic at Yale Cancer Center is proud to announce the availability of a program that provides both medical care and behavioral health counseling to cancer survivors who are experiencing concerns with sexuality and sexual dysfunction. These concerns may include everything from pain during intercourse, vaginal dryness, changes in libido, difficulty achieving orgasm, or changes in your sexual relationship with your partner. Dwain C. Fehon, Psy.D. of Psychiatry and Elena Ratner, MD of Gynecologic-Oncology staff this new, monthly clinic.
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Courtesy: Yale Cancer Center at http://yalecancercenter.org