“Genetic counseling involves consultation even years after BRCA mutation diagnosis indicating the carriers’ increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer,” says Dr. Efrat Dagan, an expert in genetic counseling at the University of Haifa. Genetic counseling, she explains, has broadened its scope with the advancement of clinical and biotechnological knowledge of genetic diagnosis. Dr. Dagan will be speaking on the role of the genetic counselor at a conference on “Living with the BRCA Gene Mutation” at the University of Haifa.

According to Lisa Cohen, director of BRACHA, an organization increasing awareness of the benefits of genetic counseling and testing for the mutation, the genetic mutation BRCA is more prevalent in Jewish women, mainly of Ashkenazi, Iraqi and Iranian origins, making Israel the home of the most BRCA carriers – over 70,000 women. Carriers of the genetic mutation, she says, have a risk of 85% of getting breast cancer as well as a high risk of ovarian cancer.

Dr. Dagan will be speaking at a conference held by the BRACHA organization at the University of Haifa, “Living with A Gene Mutation”, on the role of genetic counseling in the case of BRCA mutation. The conference is being held at the University of Haifa to increase awareness of how genetic testing can provide information so that carriers can be proactive about their own life.

A number of experts will be speaking at the conference: Dr. Efrat Dagan of the University of Haifa’s Department of Nursing; Dr. Jamal Zidan, Head of the Oncology Unit at Sieff Hospital in Safed; Dr. Ofer Lavi, Director of the Gynecological Oncology Unit at Carmel Medical Center in Haifa; and Dr. Yoav Barnea, Director of the Plastic Surgery of the Breast Unit at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

The conference (in Hebrew) will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Sammy Ofer Observatory (Eshkol Tower, 30th floor) at the University of Haifa, 5.30pm-9.00pm.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)