Summary: Genes can play a role in how tall you are, the color of your eyes or whether your hair is curly or straight. But genes also can play a role in your risk of developing cancer and other diseases. Jessica Rispoli Joines, a genetic counselor at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, explains how genetic testing can help identify whether a person has an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. In an interview with Karen Warmkessel, Joines stresses that it is important to receive counseling along with genetic testing to look at your options.
