Genetic counselling helps you understand whether cancer in your family may have an inherited cause, what genetic testing can and cannot tell you, and what a result means for you and your relatives.
The international reference definition (Resta et al., 2006, for the US National Society of Genetic Counselors) describes genetic counselling as a process that helps people “understand and adapt to” the medical, psychological and family implications of genetic contributions to disease. It brings together three elements:
Genetic counselling is not limited to interpreting genetic information or a single gene variant. In every session there is room not only for the medical facts but also for what concerns you personally: how you experience the hereditary risk, how you might talk about it with your family, and how different choices might affect your life.
Reference: Resta R, Biesecker BB, Bennett RL, Blum S, Hahn SE, Strecker MN, Williams JL. A new definition of genetic counseling: National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Task Force report. J Genet Couns. 2006;15(2):77–83. doi:10.1007/s10897-005-9014-3
The title “genetic counsellor” does not mean the same thing everywhere. In Europe, the common standards for training and professional practice are set by the European Board of Medical Genetics (EBMG), which also keeps the European register of genetic counsellors. Its aim is to recognise professional competence and to protect patients through minimum standards of education and skills. Registration requires:
The standard also gives weight to the psychosocial side: the genetic counsellor’s role includes exploring the emotional impact of an inherited condition on the family, not only giving information.
Source: European Board of Medical Genetics, registration requirements; accredited master’s programmes.
Not sure whether this applies to you? That is a good reason to ask. Genetic counselling also covers other inherited conditions and questions before or during pregnancy; more in the frequently asked questions.
A short message through the contact form. You don't need to attach any documents.
I reply personally to discuss your question, the format, the fee and availability. Nothing is booked until you have all the information and decide.
Before the consultation, I may ask you to gather your family history and any previous reports, shared through a secure channel that I will indicate.
We review your personal and family history, draw your family tree and discuss whether testing is appropriate, which test, the possible results and what they would mean. We weigh the options together; the decision stays yours. There is also room for your personal and family concerns.
When needed, a further session can follow to interpret the result, discuss options for informing relatives and coordinate with your medical team.
The aim is for you to understand what your genetic result means for you and your family, so that you can discuss it with the people close to you and with your treating doctors.
When a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant is found in germline testing, it may be linked to an increased inherited risk of specific cancers. What it means depends on the gene, the variant itself and your history. It may affect options for surveillance, prevention or treatment, and may matter for your relatives.
This is a variant for which there is not yet enough evidence to know whether it affects cancer risk. A variant of uncertain significance (VUS) is not, on its own, a basis for risk-reducing surgery or a change in medical follow-up. Decisions rest on your personal and family history and on other well-established findings. The classification may change as new evidence emerges.
No pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant was found with this test. The result can be particularly informative when a pathogenic variant is already known in the family and it is confirmed that you have not inherited it. In other situations, especially when there is a strong family history, a negative result does not rule out an inherited predisposition, and follow-up may still be based on that history.
Diagnosis, treatment and prescribing remain with your treating doctors. With your consent, a written summary of the session can be shared with them.
No, you can contact me directly. If a doctor is already looking after you, with your consent I can share the summary of our session with your treating doctor.
We will look together at the available options, what we know about their benefits and limitations, and how they relate to your own needs and priorities. This process helps you form your own view and discuss the next steps with your treating doctors.
No. Counselling helps you decide whether testing is right for you. Some people decide to test, some decide not to, and some decide later.
Hereditary cancer is my main area of expertise, but genetic counselling also covers other inherited conditions. You can contact me if a relative has been diagnosed with a genetic condition and you want to understand what it means for you, if you have a genetic test result that needs interpreting, or if you are considering testing for a condition that runs in your family. Diagnosing a genetic syndrome is a doctor’s role, usually a clinical geneticist’s; if that is what you need, I will point you to the right specialist.
Yes, whether you are planning a pregnancy or already expecting. Counselling can help, for example, when there is a known genetic condition or variant in the family, when you are considering carrier testing (such as for cystic fibrosis or fragile X syndrome), or when you want to understand prenatal testing options and results. If there is a known cancer predisposition in the family, we also look at what it may mean for your children and which options exist. Prenatal tests are arranged with your obstetrician; if you are already expecting, mention it when you first get in touch so the session can be arranged promptly.
It depends on the type of consultation. We discuss it before anything is booked; your first message commits you to nothing.
Yes. What you share is used only for your counselling and is not passed on to anyone, including your relatives, without your consent.
In both Greece and Spain, some public hospitals offer genetic testing and counselling to people who meet specific criteria. We can assess whether this is also an option in your case.
Yes, for women in four situations: ovarian cancer at any age; breast cancer before 45; breast cancer at any age with at least two relatives on the same side of the family with breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer (Gleason ≥ 7); or a known BRCA1/2 variant in the family. It is prescribed by a gynaecologist, oncologist or surgeon, once per AMKA, with a co-payment of €70 (+€6 if MLPA is needed, +€1 referral charge). If you are not in one of these groups, there may still be a reason for genetic testing; we look at this in the session. (EOPYY circular, 20/04/2026)
If possible: which relatives had cancer, what type and at what age, and any genetic test reports in the family. Incomplete information is normal; we will make use of whatever is available.
Reports now use the word “variant”. A pathogenic variant in a gene such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 raises the likelihood of some cancers, without meaning that they will develop. What it means for you depends on the gene, your history and the follow-up options available.
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