Sharing Your Genetic Test Results With Family
Though genetic testing
is highly personal, it may be important to you or your family to share what you’ve learned from your results. Communicating such important and sensitive information can be stressful, but it can also offer you relief by sharing your burden. If you tested positive, telling family members who may also carry the mutation can be empowering.
Talking With Your Spouse or Partner
If you’re in an intimate relationship, you likely share many of the experiences of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and genetic testing with your partner. Be sensitive to your partner’s concerns while you share your own. Invite your partner to appointments with you to take notes, support you and learn along the way.
If your partner feels overwhelmed or anxious, he or she may wish to seek individual emotional support , whether through private therapy, your religious community or elsewhere.
Talking With Children
mutation, you have a 50 percent chance of passing it on to your children. Your children—sons as well as daughters—may want to consider genetic testing, too. begin between the ages of 25 and 35. Still, some young adults may choose to test as young as age 18. Your genetic counselor can schedule a time to meet with you and your adult children to talk about their risk, or schedule individual appointments for each adult. or even anger you. You want the best for your children, and you want them to understand how their family background may impact their health.
Talking With Immediate Family
mutations if you test positive. counselors.