If you have or had breast cancer, or if you’re at an increased risk for it, cancer genetic testing may be right for you. Genetic testing can help determine if there’s a genetic cause for your condition. It could also reveal that the cancer wasn’t caused by a gene mutation — and that means you can stop worrying about whether other family members might develop breast cancer too.
Genetic History of Breast or Ovarian Cancer
Genetic testing is not a cure for cancer, but it can help you understand your risk. If you have or had breast cancer or ovarian cancer, or have a family history of either, genetic testing may be right for you. You can also choose to have genetic testing if you’re at average risk and want to know more about your chances of developing breast or ovarian cancer in the future.
Even if you decide against genetic testing now, knowing that your DNA carries a mutation could still be helpful later on. For example, if a man decides not to undergo paternity testing while he is alive so that his child doesn’t know the truth about who their parents are and how they were conceived (or whether they were conceived naturally), but later finds out that he has been living a lie all these years because one of his children really isn’t biologically related to him after all—it would be nice if there was something out there somewhere saying “Well hey! Maybe this person isn’t related after all.”
Cancer Genetic Testing: Knowing the Risk
Genetic testing can help you understand your risk of getting cancer, or help you understand your risk of a specific type of cancer. Genetic testing can also tell you if a family member has the gene mutation that causes a certain type of cancer. For example, if your father has colon cancer and his brother died from it at age 50, this would suggest that he’s at increased risk for getting colorectal cancer.
There are many types of genetic tests available today—some look for mutations in DNA to see if they make cells behave differently than normal cells (called somatic mutations), while others look for mutations passed down from parent to child (called germline mutations).
Which Genes are Tested in Cancer Genetic Testing
There are hundreds of genes associated with cancer, but not all of them are tested. The genes that are being tested depend on what kind of cancer you have and whether your doctor thinks a genetic mutation is likely to be involved in causing your cancer. Some genes are known to be associated with certain cancers, while others have been linked to other forms by researchers. Some studies suggest that some mutations might occur more often than others in certain populations or ethnic groups.
Some tests look for specific genetic changes that scientists know can cause a particular type of cancer; these are called germline mutations (or inherited changes). Other tests look for any variation that might turn up in the DNA samples taken from blood or cells from inside the mouth or cheek; these variations may not cause disease themselves but could indicate an increased risk for developing certain cancers later in life.
The Impact of the Results
In the case of cancer, genetic testing has many purposes. Test results can inform you about your own risk for developing certain types of cancer and help identify people who should be monitored more closely or treated differently. They may also provide information that can be used to lower your risk for getting cancer through lifestyle changes and treatment options.
The decisions you make based on these test results could impact you and your family members in many ways, so getting help from a genetic counselor is important. Genetic counselors are trained to help you understand the results of your test, as well as what risks they might mean for you and how best to manage them over time. They’re experienced at explaining complicated medical information in easy-to-understand terms so that everyone understands their options—for example, if there are other tests available or other treatments available once treatment options have been identified during genetic testing (which we’ll discuss later).
Insurance to Cover Cancer Genetic Testing
If you’re considering genetic testing, it’s important to understand that some health insurance companies may not cover the full cost of genetic counseling and testing. For example, if you have Medicare or Medicaid coverage, your plan may not cover the cost of counseling or testing.
You can check with your employer and insurance company to see what they cover—and whether there are any restrictions on who can receive genetic counseling or testing. If your employer uses a private insurance plan, they might be able to help connect you with someone at their human resources department who is familiar with their benefits policies.
Your state or local health department may also offer information about local providers that provide services at no charge or low cost (like Medicaid). In addition, some hospitals and cancer centers will provide free or reduced-fee services for their patients and community members who meet certain criteria (for example: uninsured individuals who live within a certain county). Check with these organizations directly for more details about what services they offer and whether they’re available in your area!
In addition to genetic testing, you may want to consider breast MRI screening.
In addition to genetic testing, you may want to consider breast MRI screening. Breast MRI is a non-invasive test that uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the breast tissue. It’s recommended for women who are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer because it can help detect growths in the breast long before they can be detected by a mammogram or felt in an exam. However, it is not a substitute for mammograms and should only be used as part of your overall care plan along with other regular screenings like annual physicals and self-examinations.
Knowing more about your risk can help you make more informed decisions about how to lower that risk.
Genetic testing can help you understand your risk of getting cancer. It may also tell you more about your possible risk of passing on cancer to your children. Knowing more about your risk can help you make more informed decisions about how to lower that risk.
Genetic testing tells you if you have changes in certain genes that are linked with certain types of cancers. Your doctor might recommend genetic testing if:
- You’ve had one or more abnormal results on a test for breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer genes; OR
- You’ve been diagnosed with one of these cancers; AND
- A family member has been diagnosed with one of these cancers before age 50 (except for prostate cancer); AND/OR
- You have an Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry (you’re from Eastern Europe).
Talk to a Genetic Counselor
If you have a family history of cancer, it’s important to know your risk for the disease and take steps to lower it. If you’re considering genetic testing, talk with a genetic counselor or other health care provider who can help you understand what it means and how you might use the results.
Read more:
Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk
Genetic Testing Fact Sheet – NCI