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Genetic counseling in post-genomic era: Don’t pretend to know the meaning of a gene mutation if you don’t know
Liting Song, Hope Biomedical Research, Toronto, ON M2K 2J8, Canada
Author contributions: Song L solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Liting Song, MD, MSc, Scientist, Hope Biomedical Research, 809-50 Ruddington Drive, Toronto, ON M2K 2J8, Canada. ltsong@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1-416-7331573 Fax: +1-416-7331573
Received: June 13, 2013
Revised: August 23, 2013
Accepted: December 12, 2013
Published online: February 27, 2014
Revised: August 23, 2013
Accepted: December 12, 2013
Published online: February 27, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Many susceptibility loci of possible genetic diseases are published. As our knowledge about these susceptibility loci is limited and partial, we should be very careful and responsible when patients seek genetic counseling about these possible genetic diseases. Currently, I have not seen any solid evidence in support of the linkage between breast cancer and breast cancer 1, early onset (BRCA1) or/and breast cancer 2, early onset (BRCA2); and it is not crystal clear that a person who carries mutations of the BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes would eventually get breast cancer in her/his lifetime. No person should undergo a preventive double mastectomy, unless we know the etiology of breast cancer someday.