According to the American Cancer Society, changes in genes, called mutations, play an important role in the development of cancer, and about 5-10 percent of all cancers are thought to be strongly related to an inherited gene mutation. Genetic Counselor, Maggie McDuffee, MS, CGC and Genetic Counselor, Taylor Cain, MS, CGC discuss why a patient may be referred to genetics, what to expect in a genetic counseling appointment, and the process of genetic testing.
Maggie McDuffee is a board-certified genetic counselor who joined MemorialCare in 2016. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Maggie graduated from the University of California, Irvine with her bachelor’s degree in psychology & social behavior in 2013, and received her master’s degree in human genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York in 2016.
Taylor Cain is also a board-certified genetic counselor who recently joined MemorialCare in November 2019. Taylor earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2015, and attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she received her master’s degree in human genetics. Originally from Laguna Hills, Taylor enjoys being able to provide genetic counseling to those in her community.