Counselor Eases Pain Of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment Your Diet Guide

Counselor Eases Pain Of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment

Posted by Taylah Degotardi 3 Apr, 2011

Cecilia Corso said her mother was 59 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I was horrified because it was my mother,” Corso said.

Corso decided to get tested to see if she was genetically predisposed to develop breast cancer. It was a simple blood test that took minutes and looked for a mutation in two genes, BRCA 1 and 2.

While the test is simple, a positive result means you have an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer.

Corso’s test was positive.

“I just felt so helpless,” Corso said.

She said that’s when she went to see Martha Thomas, a certified genetic counselor with the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, who helps women like Corso through the process.

“(I help them with) how this will affect them (and) how this will affect their family,” Thomas said.

Thomas said she taught Corso things she could to do prevent breast cancer.

“Instead of mammograms every year, you can do them every six months. Most insurance companies will cover breast MRIs, which are much more sensitive and detect smaller cancers,” Thomas said.

Corso said it means a chance to stay cancer free as long as possible, and she has two very good reasons to do just that.

“I have two sons, (ages) 3 and 6, and they keep me very busy. So it was really important that I stay healthy so that I can run after them and be their mommy,” Corso said.

For more information on hereditary breast cancer, visit www.facingourrisk.org.

For genetic counseling, contact Martha Thomas at thomasm3@uthscsa.edu or call 210-704-2084.

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