Dr. Rosalba E. Sacca ’16MSGC was featured in The Advocate and Teen Vogue on Jan. 5 for her research on screening transgender individuals for BRCA gene mutations, which increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Dr. Sacca presented “Trans-counseling: A Case Series of Transgender Individuals at High Risk for BRCA 1 Mutations” at the 36th annual National Society of Genetic Counselors Conference. Her research highlighted the importance of health care providers initiating this conversation, as the heightened risk of breast or ovarian cancer may impact which hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgeries are safe to undergo.

“Rather than being a barrier to transitioning, genetic counseling can benefit transgender individuals at risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations by helping them understand their cancer risks and the choices available to them to manage those risks,” Dr. Sacca told The Advocate.