Ellen T. Matloff on Genetic Recommendations for BRCA1/2 Carriers

Ellen T. Matloff, MS, CGC, director, Yale Cancer Genetic Counseling Program at the Yale School of Medicine/Yale Cancer Center, discusses options for BRCA1/2 carriers who are looking to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer.

Matloff recommends that all BRCA1/2 carriers should seek the advice of a certified genetic counselor. The counselor will sit down with the carrier and go over all of their mutations before conducting a four-generation, personal and family history assessment and going over all of their options.

If the patient has had 20 years of birth control pill use, for example, she’s already greatly reduced her risk of ovarian cancer, Matloff explains. A more personalized approached needs to be taken when discussing risk-reducing options, Matloff says.