The Emotional Impact of Genetic Risk with Emily Epstein of Weill Cornell

What happens emotionally after you learn you have an increased risk for cancer?

A genetic test can give us important information about our health and our options. But living with that information is something else entirely.

In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa sits down with Emily Epstein, LMSW, Genetic Social Worker with the Genetics and Personalized Cancer Prevention Program at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, to talk about the psychosocial side of hereditary cancer risk and the gap that can exist between receiving genetic information and actually learning how to live with it.

They talk about the anxiety that can come with knowing your cancer risk, the emotional weight of ongoing surveillance and prevention decisions, navigating family dynamics, communicating genetic risk with relatives, survivor and previvor guilt, and why the emotional impact of hereditary cancer doesn’t end after the genetic counseling appointment.

Emily also shares how her work provides long-term psychosocial support for people living with hereditary cancer risk and why this kind of care deserves a place alongside medical surveillance, genetic counseling, and cancer prevention.

Emily is among the first clinicians in the country working specifically as a Genetic Social Worker in this capacity. At Weill Cornell’s Genetics and Personalized Cancer Prevention Program, she has helped build psychosocial services from the ground up, including individual counseling, care coordination, family testing support, and peer support. Before becoming a social worker, Emily worked as an actor on Broadway, national tours, and in voiceover.

About the Genetics and Personalized Cancer Prevention Program

The Genetics and Personalized Cancer Prevention Program at Weill Cornell Medicine cares for individuals and families with hereditary cancer syndromes. The multidisciplinary program brings together genetic counseling, medical and surgical specialists, research, and social work to support cancer prevention and risk reduction over the long term.

Innovations in Cancer Genetics Symposium

The Innovations in Cancer Genetics Symposium takes place October 15–17, 2026, at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, presented with FORCE.

Thursday, October 15 is Patient Wellness and Connection Day, a full day created for individuals living with hereditary cancer syndromes and their families. Emily organized the day alongside her colleague Laura Schneebaum. Emily will also present on Friday and moderate the patient panel closing the symposium on Saturday.

Register at gpcpsymposium.com and use code THURSDAY50 for a discounted Thursday pass.

Connect & Learn More

Emily Epstein, LMSW:

https://weillcornell.org/emily-epstein-lmsw

Genetics and Personalized Cancer Prevention Program:

www.wcinyp.org/gpcp

GPCP on Instagram: @WCMCancergenetics

Emily on Instagram: @emilyepsteinlmsw

Research:

Epstein ES, et al. Addressing the Psychosocial Gap in Hereditary Cancer Care. JCO Oncology Practice, 2026.

https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP-26-00307

BRCA & Beyond is a hereditary cancer podcast exploring the medical, emotional, and psychosocial realities of living with inherited cancer risk. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care.

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review. This helps us reach more people navigating previvorship, survivorship, and life after a diagnosis.

Medical Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

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