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Shelly Weiss

Bio

Phone: 1-866-730-5757

Shelly Weiss, MS, CGC, joined NorthShore University HealthSystem Center for Medical Genetics in 2009. She graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2007 with a B.S. in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science, and received a Master of Science degree from the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at Northwestern University in 2009. Her clinical interests include providing risk assessment and genetic counseling for adult-onset conditions and working with pediatric patients alongside their families for a variety of indications. She is a current member of the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders's Associate Board and also serves as resource for Be Bright Pink, an organization that provides support and education for women who are at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

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Affiliation:

  • NorthShore University HealthSystem

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Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    Gene Discoveries Give Hope Against 'Brittle Bone' Disease

    WEDNESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Mutations in a gene involved in bone development appear to cause certain severe forms of bone loss, a finding that could lead to new therapies for the common bone-thinning disorder osteoporosis, researchers report.

    The mutations were found in a Swedish...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    Researchers Pinpoint Cause of Port-Wine Stain Birthmarks

    WEDNESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they finally know what causes babies to be born with port-wine stain birthmarks and a rarer but related condition that often leads to lifelong struggles with blindness, seizures and mental disabilities.

    In a new study published in the M...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    Gene Studies Could Point to New Alzheimer's Treatments

    THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Insight into genes that play a key role in disrupting immune system pathways in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease could offer a potential target for new drugs against the disease, two new studies show.

    "Defining the precise steps of the i...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    Human Gene Patent Case Goes to Supreme Court

    MONDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- The question of whether human genes can be patented is at the center of a case to be heard Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court.

    The court's decision could have a profound effect on medical research in the country, efforts to fight diseases such as breast ...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    10 Years On, Still Much To Be Learned From Human Genome Map

    FRIDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) -- As scientists mark the 10th anniversary Sunday of the completion of the Human Genome Project, they will note how that watershed effort has led to the discovery of the genetic underpinnings of almost 5,000 diseases.

    And it has made it possible to develo...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    Study Locates More Obesity Genes

    SUNDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- New gene locations linked to obesity have been pinpointed in a large study by an international team of researchers.

    The team examined data from more than 260,000 people and identified seven new gene locations tied to overweigh...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    Human Intellect Backsliding From Lack of Evolutionary Pressure: Study

    FRIDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The human race is slowly losing its intellectual and emotional capabilities because it no longer faces extreme evolutionary pressures, new research contends.

    Human intelligence and behavior require optimal functioning of a large number of genes, but the...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Genetic Medicine:
    DNA 'Telomere' Length Tied to Aging, Death Risk

    THURSDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The shorter the DNA sequences found at the end of a person's chromosomes -- known as telomeres -- the higher the risk for death, a large investigation into the microscopic underpinnings of mortality contends.

    The finding stems from a fresh look at the ...Full Article

  • Shelly Weiss
    Shelly Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:
    How can I prevent ovarian cancer if I have a BRCA mutation?
    Unfortunately, we don’t yet have good screening tools to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage. For this reason, most ovarian cancers are diagnosed at later stages, where they are not curable. Transvaginal ultrasounds and CA-125 blood tests can be utilized for screening with an understanding...  Full Post
  • Shelly Weiss
    Shelly Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:
    If I have the BRCA gene, why should my family also get genetic testing?
    If you have been found to carry a BRCA gene mutation, your relatives are also at risk of carrying the mutation. Specifically, your children and siblings are at a 50% risk of inheriting the mutation, as well as other more distant relatives. If your relatives are found to inherit the mutation,...  Full Post
  • Shelly Weiss
    Shelly Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:
    Is genetic testing for triple negative breast cancer covered by insurance?
    Generally, yes. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has recently revised their guidelines for BRCA genetic testing to include individuals who are diagnosed with a triple negative breast cancer under the age of 60. Many insurance providers have adopted these guidelines into their criteria...  Full Post
  • Shelly Weiss
    Shelly Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:
    If I'm at high risk for breast cancer, when should I begin screening tests?
    In the setting of BRCA mutation or family history of a BRCA mutation, young women are encouraged to begin screening with mammogram, breast MRI and more frequent clinical examination (one with a breast specialist) in their mid twenties. For families that have testing negative for a BRCA mutation,...  Full Post
  • Shelly Weiss
    Shelly Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:
    Why should I get genetic testing if I know I'm at risk for breast cancer?
    Genetic testing can assist individuals in further clarifying their risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Testing may help individuals decide what type of screening or surgeries they should consider. Testing may also help your relatives (children, siblings) to be proactive with their health....  Full Post
  • Shelly Weiss
    Shelly Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:
    Who should consider genetic testing for the BRCA breast cancer genes?
    Individuals should consider a genetic test is if they have a personal or family history of cancer that has genetic risk factors (as described in the previous question). Your physician team as well as a genetic counselor can help you decide whether you should consider genetic testing for the...  Full Post
  • Shelly Weiss
    Shelly Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:
    Should I get genetic testing for breast cancer if I am a man?
    Men as well as women can carry breast cancer predisposing genetic mutations. Men with BRCA mutations face an elevated risk of breast cancer (5-7%). When investigating your family's medical history, you should never ignore a diagnosis of breast cancer in a male relative, or your father's (...  Full Post