When Corinne’s sister was diagnosed with hereditary breast cancer, she began questioning what it meant for her own health and her family’s future.
“Once I found out my sister had a genetic cancer, I assumed my risk was high and that I may also have passed the gene to my daughters,” she said. “I just started making changes because that was all I knew to do.”
What she needed most was clarity about her own risk, which led her Harrison team to recommend genetic testing.
What Genetic Testing Can Do
Genetic testing can identify whether someone does or does not carry an inherited genetic variant linked to a higher risk of certain cancers or other health conditions. This reduces uncertainty and guides care based on their actual level of risk.
For some, results may inform earlier or more frequent screening, prevention strategies, specialist referrals, or treatment decisions. For others, genetic testing can help facilitate conversations with children, siblings, and other relatives who may also have questions about their own risk.
Just as importantly, genetic testing can help people move from fear to informed decision-making.
For Corinne, that clarity began when she was connected with Carol Cremin, Canadian Board-Certified Genetic Counsellor at Harrison.
A Different Experience Through Harrison
When Carol became involved, something shifted. Before a single test had been run, Corinne already felt like she had regained a sense of control over her health.
What does a Genetic Counsellor Do?
Genetic Counsellors help people understand inherited risk, testing options, and what results may mean for them and their families. Before testing, they review personal and family history, explain which genes or markers may be relevant, discuss possible outcomes, and help you consider the emotional and practical implications of knowing.
Carol walked Corinne through the entire process, setting clear expectations about what the test could and couldn’t answer, what each type of result could mean, and what to expect at each stage.
This calm, educational approach made an immediate difference. As Corinne put it, the word “counsellor” truly describes what Carol does. She brought both knowledge and steadiness to a process that can often feel overwhelming.
In addition to Carol, Corinne also received the support of the team at BC Cancer.
Corinne was connected with Angela, a Genetic Counsellor with BC Cancer and UBC who specializes in hereditary cancers. Angela coordinated the testing package and sent it to Corinne directly. There was no need to travel to a specialized centre. No confusion about where to go. No uncertainty about what step came next.
While the sample was processed, Angela kept in touch and sent follow-up information so that Corinne was not left waiting in silence.
Within a few weeks, the results were ready. Carol called right away. She walked Corinne through her results, making sure she understood what everything meant and that she was not processing the news alone.
Relief, and Something More
Corinne’s results came back negative for the hereditary marker found in her sister. But the team hadn’t stopped there. Carol and her colleagues had also tested for 40 to 50 additional genetic markers, including for ovarian cancer, all of which came back clear.
The relief was profound. Not just for Corinne, but for what it meant for her daughters. She was not passing that hereditary marker on to them.
Knowing she carried general population risk, rather than the elevated risk she had assumed, changed how she felt in her day-to-day life. The low-level anxiety that had been running in the background finally had somewhere to go.
What does “general population risk” mean?
Breast cancer is common in Canada, affecting about 1 in 8 women. However, most cases are not hereditary. Only 5-10% are caused by an inherited gene mutation, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These mutations are rare, found in about 1 in 500 people, but they can increase the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer to as high as 85%.
Giving Her Family the Right Tools
One of the most meaningful parts of the experience came after the results, when Carol helped Corinne understand what each test meant in practical terms. Because Corinne’s family members are also clients at Harrison, Carol had a complete picture and could connect with their Care Teams if she needed to. Having this comprehensive approach made it easier to talk through what the results meant for the family going forward.
Carol gave Corinne the language she needed to have those conversations at home too. Now her daughters use the right terminology and better understand their familial health risks.
What started as a personal health question became a foundation for the whole family to better understand risk, testing, and prevention. Corinne no longer had to rely on fear or assumptions. She had information, context, and support.
Moving From Fear to Informed Action
Before testing, Corinne made changes because she assumed the worst. After testing, she could make decisions that were proportionate and grounded in her actual results. The shift from fear to informed action gave her a greater sense of control.
With proper counselling and follow-up, genetic testing can help clients understand their options and make decisions with confidence.
Corinne is open to more testing in the future, and she would encourage others to consider it too. Not because the results are always what you hope for, but because having support throughout the process can make the experience far less overwhelming.
“Even if my results had come back differently,” she said, “I know it would have been okay, because Carol was with me through all of it.”
If you’re ready to understand your own risk, please contact Harrison to learn more about Genetic Counselling and the testing options available through our Premier program.
What to know about Genetic Testing access & eligibility
Eligibility for and access to genetic testing vary by province. Publicly funded testing typically requires a referral from your doctor, who assesses your personal and family history against specific criteria. If you qualify, you’ll be referred to a medical genetics clinic or a genetic counsellor. Private pay options also exist.
A Genetic Counsellor can be an invaluable guide through the often overwhelming and emotionally charged process, especially when a loved one’s health is at stake.
