Genetic Counseling

What Is Genetic Counseling?

Genetic counseling can help you understand your risk and your family’s risk of developing cancer. Your first appointment with a genetic counselor will be over the telephone and may take about 45 to 75 minutes. A second telephone appointment with a genetic counselor is necessary to discuss genetic test results (if relevant).

During an appointment with one of our genetic counselors, you will:

• Learn how genetic testing can clarify cancer risk
• Review genetic testing options and possible outcomes from testing
• Receive information about genetic risk factors, learn about options for risk management and receive support about your decision on managing those risks best

How to Schedule an Appointment for Genetic Counseling

Please discuss your interest in genetic counseling and testing with your IHA/Trinity Health provider to see if genetic counseling is appropriate for you.

• A physician referral is required.
• Once a referral is on file from your IHA/Trinity Health physician, our office will contact you to explain our scheduling process.
• If you have questions, please contact us at 734-712-1541.

How to Prepare for Genetic Counseling

You may not operate a motor vehicle during your appointment with a genetic counselor due to Michigan Distracted Driving Laws.

We would like you to gather information about your medical history and check with relatives before your appointment. During your appointment, we will review details about your personal and family medical history, such as:

• Your overall medical history, such as any major health problems you have had throughout your life
• Details of your cancer diagnosis (if relevant), cancer screening history (such as mammograms or colonoscopies), exposures
• If you have had genetic testing or any risk-reducing procedures (such as having your uterus or ovaries removed)

We will also ask about your family members, such as:

• Information about family size and any known family history of cancer, including the type of cancer, age at cancer diagnosis, etc. This can include pathology and treatment
• If they have had any notable pre-cancerous polyps or lesions, genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes, risk-reducing procedures etc

Meet our Providers

• Lindsey Blakely, MS, LCGC 
  Central Michigan University 2010 - B.S. Biomedical Sciences 
  Wayne State University - 2015 M.S. Genetic Counseling
• Kelsie McVeety, MS, LCGC 
  University of Oregon 2015 - B.S. Biological Anthropology 
  The Ohio State University 2017 - Post-baccalaureate Genetics 
  University of Michigan 2019 - M.S. Genetic Counseling
• Sommer Hayden, MS, LCGC 
  Western Michigan University 2009 - B.S. Biomedical Sciences 
  Wayne State University - 2011 M.S. Genetic Counseling

Family History Questionnaire

You will receive an email from Progeny, inviting you to complete a family history questionnaire.

• Before your appointment, please complete the online family history questionnaire using your home computer. This will be sent by Progeny to your email address.
• Appointments may be delayed if you do not complete this form in advance.
• We understand that you may not know all the details about your family history. Checking with relatives before your appointment may be very helpful.
• Please complete the family history form to the best of your ability. It is acceptable to provide estimates if you are not sure about exact ages or dates.
• Avoid completing the form using a smartphone or tablet, as this may cause technical issues with the software.
• If you need Progeny technical support, please call 800-776-4369.
• If you prefer to complete a paper or online version of our family history questionnaire, please call us at 734-712-1541.

Release of Information (ROI) Form

It may be helpful to request medical records from a family member. You can use an ROI form to get medical records from other hospitals or clinics. This form must be signed by either the individual or next of kin. Similarly, if a family member is a Trinity Health patient, we can only discuss details of their case if they have provided us with written permission.

Download ROI form

Point of Care Testing

You may come to your genetic counseling appointment having already done genetic testing through the Trinity Health Point of Care Pilot Program for Pancreas Cancer Patients. In this case, we will collect relevant history information and discuss your genetic testing results and what they mean for you and your family moving forward.

Answers to Common Questions

• Appointment wait times and availability can vary. We strive to offer appointments for patients within 1-2 weeks from the date of referral IF the referral is marked in our system as urgent and genetic test results are desired to guide upcoming treatment decisions. Routine appointments are generally scheduling out 3-4 months from the date of referral unless there are additional delays.
• The genetic counselor will review general information with you about the cost of genetic testing and how test billing is handled. You should not receive a bill for the genetic counseling appointment.
• At the end of your appointment, if you decide to undergo genetic testing, you will decide on a plan together with your genetic counselor to determine the next steps, including how many genes we will test, how the sample will be collected (blood, saliva, buccal, or skin biopsy), and how and when you will receive your genetic test results.
• Your genetic counselor will help arrange an appointment for genetic testing sample collection, typically at one of the Trinity Health Cancer Center locations in Brighton, Canton, Chelsea, or Ann Arbor.
• If you decide after your discussion with a genetic counselor that genetic testing is not something you want to pursue, we can decide to revisit genetic testing for cancer risk at another date.
• Depending on your genetic test results, there may be cancer screening and management recommendations that will be discussed. These recommendations are personalized based on your genetic testing results and personal and family medical history.
• In some situations, your genetic counselor may refer you to meet with a physician in our Oncology Program or another specialist.
• You may not operate a motor vehicle during your appointment with a genetic counselor due to Michigan Distracted Driving Laws.
• GINA is a law that prevents health insurers and employers from requesting, requiring, or using genetic information to make decisions about eligibility for health insurance or employment. GINA’s protections do not apply to life, long-term care, or disability insurance. For more information, visit: http://www.ginahelp.org/.
• Have other questions? Consider making a list of questions to ask your genetic counselor and have the list handy during your scheduled appointment.

Request an Appointment

If you're interested in genetic counseling and testing or referring a patient, don't hesitate to reach out to us at 734-712-1541.