Most people who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease. However, when a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer is present, there may be reason to believe that a person has inherited an abnormal gene linked to higher breast cancer risk. Some people choose to undergo genetic testing to find out. A genetic test involves giving a blood or saliva sample that can be analyzed to pick up any abnormalities in these genes.

Laura Fisher of Windsong Radiology is Board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. She serves as treasurer of the New York State Genetic Counselor Licensure Task Force. In addition to being a regional lecturer, she teaches first year medical students at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and was nominated for an award in teaching excellence.  Laura received a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Boston University and has most recently provided genetic counseling at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. Laura is enthusiastic about her new role with Windsong and the breast care program. She is a dedicated and intelligent counselor committed to offering a compassionate, informative environment for patients seeking genetic counseling.

As Laura shared, with genetic testing for inherited cancer predisposition becoming more widely available and increasingly complex, it is her goal to provide patients with the counseling and education needed to help them make informed decisions.