Woman plays key role at clinic in understanding role of genetics.

Christa Kiessel

A Suttons Bay woman is playing a key role in testing for genetic mutations associated with cancer in a program involving Munson Medical Center and the University of Michigan.
Christa (Morrison) Kiessel, a 1989 Suttons Bay graduate, is an oncology nurse practitioner who is working in the cancer genetics clinic in Traverse City.

“I’ve been an oncology nurse practitioner for the past 12 years,” said Kiessel, who received her nursing degree from Northwestern Michigan College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, and master’s degree from the University of North Carolina.

Kiessel said she’s always been interested in the role genetics may play in the development of cancer, and jumped at the chance for additional instruction in this field during separate conferences in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

“We really didn’t have any services available up here. The closest options were Grand Rapids and Midland,” she said. “Oncologists really began pushing the hospital for something here. And that’s what led to the creation of the clinic.”

The clinic works to identify people at high risk for cancer, which includes those diagnosed with cancer at an early age, under 50, or those with a family history of cancer — most commonly breast, ovarian, uterine or colon. U-M medical geneticist Stephen B. Gruber and his team of genetic counselors lend their expertise for the specialty clinic.

“The patients I see have been referred by a physician. Most have already been diagnosed or they’re young and have a strong family history or both,” Kiessel said. “After receiving appropriate counseling, if they want genetic testing, we can draw the blood at that time … Knowing this information can significantly change the way patients are screened and treated for cancer.”

Blood is drawn and its genetic material analyzed.

“Depending upon where they are, it could have a direct effect on treatment in an immediate sense and in the future,” she said.

A Gaylord woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and treated in May 2006 is part of the program. She tested positive for a mutated gene BRCA 1. Research has shown that this testing of BRCA 1 and 2 genes can reveal important information related to breast or ovarian cancer risk.

Knowing she carries the mutated gene means the patient has high odds of developing breast cancer. Both men and women in a family can carry the genes associated with increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

“It’s important for both men and women to think about testing,” Kiessel said.

Although breast and ovarian cancer are “female cancers,” men can carry an altered BRCA 1 or 2 gene and pass it to their children. Men who carry an altered gene also have a slightly increased risk of development breast, colon and prostate cancer.

The clinic also offers counseling and testing for inherited colon cancer syndromes, such as Familiar Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Lynch Syndrome.

“There are other more rate inherited cancer syndromes that area also seen in our clinic,” Kiessel said. “There’s still a lot to be discovered about cancer susceptibility genes and various factors in our environment that contribute to the development of cancer.”

Patients at the clinic are offered the opportunity to participate in the University of Michigan cancer genetics registry or other clinical trials. Kiessel said that she emphasizes to participants that it will take time for research through the registry to yield personal information, if any at all.

“It’s been nice for me after taking care of patients for 12 years who are in treatment with chemotherapy … to be on the other side, prevention,” she said.

The cancer genetics clinic operates monthly with an average of five patients seen by Kiessel. During the times Gruber and a genetic counselor are available, all three work together to see patients.

Appointments for the monthly clinic may be made by calling 935-7100