Are you ready to unveil the mysteries hidden within your DNA? Get ready to unlock the answers behind genetic testing and counselling with Tiara Hassan. As Deputy Head of the Genetic Counselling Unit, Tiara is ready to share her expertise and answer all your burning questions in this informative piece.
Don’t miss out on this interesting read as it will give you valuable insights into how this specialised form of counselling can help you or your loved ones. So, whether you’re a patient, a healthcare provider or just a curious individual, join us as we explore this exciting field of medicine and discover how it can help us live healthier and longer lives.
1. Let’s start with the basics, what is Genetic Counseling?
Genetic counseling gives you information about how genes contribute to diseases and how that might affect you or your family. To help you, genetic counselors will review your personal and family health history and use the information to determine how likely it is that you or your family member has inherited a faulty gene. Based on the data collected, the genetic counselor can help you decide whether a genetic test might be right for you or your relatives, and what treatment and prevention options may be appropriate for you and your family.
2. Why is Genetic Counseling important?
For starters, it helps patients choose the treatment and prevention strategy that is appropriate for them. For some patients, the gene test could help decide on whether treatment A or B is more likely to give the patient the best chance of a cure. For other patients, the gene test could help clarify whether because they inherited a faulty gene, they have a high risk of cancer or whether because they did not inherit a faulty gene found in other family members, they have a low risk of cancer.
As part of the consultation, the genetic counselor will discuss genetic testing options, review the results and provide a summary of this information to patients and their doctors. Just like any other test we take, we may get scared, nervous, agitated and curious waiting for the outcome, especially for something that we may have never heard of or find hard to understand. A genetic counselor will prepare patients mentally and emotionally for results that might be surprising or alarming while providing peace of mind for those who are fearful about inheriting a disease, and also to avoid unnecessary costs or inappropriate tests.
3. Where can I find a Genetic Counselor in Malaysia?
Don’t panic. CRMY also provides Genetic counseling services. You may contact us directly by simply dropping us a WhatsApp at +60 12 374 7426 or +60 16 363 4742.
If traveling is a concern or time-consuming for some, we could arrange for a video call consultation so you can access the service regardless of where you are.
You can also speak to your doctor to get a referral for Genetic Counseling: click here for a full list of Genetic services in Malaysia.
4. How much does Genetic Testing cost?
The cost of Genetic Testing in Malaysia can vary widely depending on the type of test and where it is done. On average, the cost can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of Ringgit. Nevertheless, testing may be available for very high-risk families in public health services. To learn more, consult with our genetic counsellors or your healthcare professionals as they will discuss the estimated cost for the specific test being considered.
5. How does CRMY’s Genetic Counseling Unit help Malaysians?
20 years ago, cancer genetic testing and counselling were not widely available in Malaysia because of cost and the lack of expertise. Cancer Research Malaysia conducted research to show that 1 in 9 ovarian cancer patients and 1 in 20 breast cancer patients developed these cancers because they inherited faulty genes, and we worked with doctors all over Malaysia to increase expertise in genetic counselling and genetic testing. In ovarian cancer, through the MaGiC (Mainstreaming Genetic Counselling for Genetic Testing) study, we partnered with geneticists, gynaecologists and oncologists nationwide to increase access to lifesaving genetics from 2% to 65% and conduct a ground-breaking study called. In breast cancer, we developed the first Asian-specific risk calculator called ARiCa, and we are partnering with breast surgeons in 4 hospitals to increase access to lifesaving genetics for breast cancer patients (results anticipated by middle of 2024).
6. Can you tell us a bit more about Asian Genetic Risk Calculator a.k.a ARiCa and how it has helped the Asian communities?
Doctors only recommend genetic testing for patients who have a higher chance of inheriting a faulty gene, but the methods which help doctors calculate this chance was 80% accurate in Europeans and only ~20% accurate in Asians. Cancer Research Malaysia has developed a tool called ARiCa (Asian Risk Calculator) that is ~80% accurate in Asians – this means doctors (and patients) can be more confident about whether gene testing is helpful for them and their families. This is the first (and most accurate) tool for South East Asian women.
7. What is the future of Genetic Counseling in Malaysia?
Around 50,000 Malaysians inherited a faulty gene, but less than 5% know their status today. Cancer Research Malaysia is on a mission to save lives by providing this information to as many individuals as possible: we could potentially have a 5% reduction in the incidence of breast cancer, and a 13% reduction in the incidence of ovarian cancer. To do this, we are developing more accurate tools to help patients determine their risk of cancer, and we are training more doctors and genetic counsellors to provide these life-saving services to more Malaysians. Our goal is to make genetics available and accessible!
Genetic counseling goes beyond education as it provides support to individuals and their families when managing the psychosocial impacts of the result. With your support, our Genetic Counseling team can continue their passion and help countless lives.
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