Frequently Asked Questions

What is genetic counseling?

甚麼是遺傳諮詢？

Genetic counseling is a communication process for helping patients and their families to understand and adapt to the psychological, reproductive, familial and medical implications of their genetic information.

遺傳諮詢是一個溝通過程，旨在幫助患者及其家人了解，並適應遺傳信息對其心理、生殖、家庭和醫學的影響。

What is Post-Test Genetic Counseling?

甚麼是檢測後遺傳諮詢？

In a post-test genetic counseling session, we provide you information about how your test results, and your genetic conditions might affect you or your family.

在檢測後遺傳諮詢中，我們為您提供有關您的檢測結果以及遺傳狀況，如何可能影響您或您的家人的信息。

• By explaining what the results of genetic tests may mean for you and your family, we help you understand if a condition/disorder that affects you may be genetic.

  通過解釋您的基因檢測結果可能對您和您的家人有甚麼意義，我們可以幫助您了解影響您的疾病/病症是否可能是遺傳。

• We help you understand the genetic contributions and impacts, by providing estimates for the risk of disease, and also estimates on how your relatives may be affected.

  通過提供疾病風險的估計以及親戚可能受到影響的估計，我們可以幫助您了解遺傳促成和影響。

• We provide psychosocial support to help you and your families adapt to your conditions or risks. This is a process of understanding ways to avoid risks or minimize risks to you.

  我們提供社會與心理支持，以幫助您和您的家人適應您的狀況或風險。這是了解去避免風險或將風險最小化的方法的過程。

• We may also discuss further genetic testing options for your family members.

  我們也可能會為您的家人討論進一步的基因檢測選擇。

• Equally important, our post-test counseling is also a process to allow you to talk about your feelings of loss, frustration, disappointment, and be given opportunities to make good, informed decisions and to improve your and your family’s health outcomes.

  同樣重要的是，我們的檢測後諮詢也是一個過程，使您可以談論自己的失落、沮喪、失望的感覺，並有機會做出明智的決定，並改善您和家人的健康狀況。

• We also explain the current laws and implications regarding the privacy of your genetic information.

  我們還會解釋有關您的遺傳信息隱私的現行法律和意義。

My Physician Explained My Test Results to me Briefly. Can I still Benefit from a Standard Genetic Counseling Session?

我的醫生簡短地向我解釋了我的檢測結果。我仍然可以從標準遺傳諮詢中受益嗎？

• Physician counseling may last for about 15 minutes in Hong Kong. The session usually focuses on the patient and treatment options.

  醫生諮詢在香港可能約15分鐘。諮詢通常側重於患者和治療選擇。

• We provide 45-minute long session and include critical information not only for you, but also your family members.

  我們提供45分鐘的諮詢，不僅包括您，還包括您的家人的重要信息。

• By using detailed personal and family history, we help patients understand the implications of their genetics on their disorders, and on their families

  通過詳細的個人和家族史，我們可以幫助患者了解基因對其疾病及其家庭的影響。

• We also provide psychological support and help patient to work on a plan that can manage their conditions, their risks and their mental well-beings.

  我們還提供心理支持，並幫助患者制定可管理其病情、風險和心理健康的計劃。

My Genetic Test Results Were Negative. I Still Do Not Have a Diagnosis. Can I Learn More about My Condition with Additional Genetic Testing Options, at a Genetic Counseling Session?

我的基因檢測結果為陰性。我仍然沒有診斷。在遺傳諮詢中，我可以通過其他遺傳檢測選項進一步了解我的疾病嗎？

During a genetic counseling session, we will review your medical and test histories. With new genetic testing technologies available to patients, and based on the type of genetic disorders that may affect you, we maybe able to recommend more sensitive and accurate test options that may provide a diagnosis.

在遺傳諮詢中，我們將檢視您的醫療和檢測史。通過為患者提供新的基因檢測技術，並根據可能影響您的遺傳疾病的類型，我們也許可以推薦更靈敏、更準確的檢測方法來進行診斷。

My Genetic Test Found a Mutation Associated with My Condition. Will My Family Members Benefit from Their Own Genetic Counseling?

我的基因檢測發現與我的疾病有關的突變。我的家庭成員會從我的遺傳諮詢中受益嗎？

It is important to understand how a genetic condition runs in the family. In our counseling session, we will explain the risks to your direct and indirect family members. If appropriate, additional genetic testing for your family members may be appropriate to consider to confirm the risks conferred by a particular genetic disorder.

重要的是要了解遺傳狀況如何在家庭中出現。在諮詢過程中，我們將向您解釋您的直接和間接家庭成員的風險。如果合適，您的家人可能可以考慮進行額外的基因檢測，以幫助確認特定遺傳疾病帶來的風險。