Hereditary cancer counselling

Understanding risk, testing and the meaning of a result

Genetic counselling is a structured process that helps individuals and families understand inherited risk, the purpose and limitations of genetic testing, and the possible consequences of receiving a result.

Before testing, counselling considers the personal and family cancer history, the clinical question being addressed, the available testing options and the range of possible outcomes.

After testing, counselling places the result in context. This may include explaining a pathogenic variant, an uncertain finding, or a negative or uninformative result, as well as discussing possible implications for clinical management, relatives and cascade testing.

The purpose is not simply to communicate a laboratory finding, but to support informed decisions and help individuals and families understand what the information does—and does not—mean.

I collaborate with the Breast Center at Metropolitan Hospital, Athens, as an external collaborator.

I provide genetic counselling to patients referred by the department, including hereditary cancer risk assessment, discussion of germline testing and interpretation of results.

I also collaborate with the medical team on testing options, the clinical interpretation of findings and their possible implications for patients and relatives.