Strong. Healthy. Empowered.
Jessica Ordonez, certified genetic counselor and Medical Science Liaison at Myriad Genetics explains genetics' role in breast cancer and how the MyRisk® with RiskScore® tests can help you better understand your 5-year and lifetime risk. You’ll learn what you need to know about different kinds of genetic factors, including the impact of changes in genes like BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and others. Uncover the fallacy that you aren’t at risk if you don’t have “the BRCA gene.” We’ll also discuss how a genetic counselor can guide you if your results show a high lifetime risk. If you have a family history of cancer or are simply curious about your genetic health, this episode offers insights into genetic testing, risk factors, and empowering yourself with knowledge.
Jessica Ordonez is a certified genetic counselor and Medical Science Liaison at Myriad Genetics. She holds diplomate status with the American Board of Genetic Counseling and is an active member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the Florida Association of Genetic Counselors.
Jessica completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor’s in Cell & Molecular Biology and Spanish Literature and a Master’s in Genetic Counseling. With over a decade of experience as a clinical genetic counselor, she has provided care in pediatric, adult, and cancer genetics clinics within academic and private hospital settings, focusing on Spanish-speaking patients.
As a Medical Science Liaison, Jessica educates clinicians across Florida on hereditary cancer and reproductive genetics. She is involved in several company projects at Myriad, specifically leading a needs assessment for patient-facing Spanish resources to enhance inclusiveness and equity in care.
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“We typically say that all breast cancer is genetic, right? Right, but not all breast cancer is hereditary, and there's a difference if you think about it about what cancer is. It's cells growing out of control, and most of the time, cancer is triggered by a genetic change that can happen randomly. It can occur due to environmental exposure, but that doesn't mean you were born with it. Everything comes back to the genetic code in the end. Still, hereditary cancer refers to that inherited genetic change that you were born with that makes you more susceptible to it and that accounts for five to ten percent of all cases.” Jessica Ordonez
“So what I mean by that is first, we're concerned with excluding someone with a hereditary susceptibility. That's why we test for those 48 genes associated with 11 types of cancers, but we do not stop there. In addition, we're looking at the patient's personal status and family history. The test has a component that is called RiskScore®, which calculates a five-year as well as a lifetime risk for breast cancer for eligible patients.” Jessica Ordonez
