10 - Genetic Risk and Colon Cancer

On this episode of the Cancer Dietitian Podcast we’re talking with Thuy Vu, a Genetic Counselor at Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center in Winston-Salem, NC, about how genetics can affect your probability of developing colon cancer and preventative measures you can take to help stay cancer-free. We’ll also chat with Jill Hyson about her diagnosis of Lynch Syndrome and how it’s affected her life and family. What we discuss:

• When you should request to see a Genetic Counselor
• Who is considered a medically “close relative”
• When to worry about pre-cancerous polyps
• Collecting your family’s medical history
• The difference between genetics counseling and genetics testing
• How often you should have your genetics tested
• Three possible test results
• How online genetics tests differ from the genetic testing requested by your doctor
• Lynch Syndrome
• Mentally processing your diagnosis

Links mentioned:

Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Services, Inc. Cancer Dietitian Colon Cancer Coalition Get Your Rear in Gear 2020 Race Race Facebook Event Page