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Genetic Testing: Would You Want To Know If You Were Going To Get Cancer?

I just got invited to a genetic counseling event for cancer patients (yes, these are the types of things I get invited to) and, well, it got me thinking. If there were a test I could have taken that would have told me I'd get CML at 23, would I have? And I wonder how my life would have changed if I were sitting on that info. Would I have still gone all the way to Tennessee for college? Would I have fallen in love with Nick...and let him fall in love with me? Would I have worked so hard for so many years at Glamour? I can't imagine my life without any of those experiences but who knows how that knowledge may have changed things. Of course I also can't help but wonder whether I'd want to know…

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Featured

 Blood Tests That Detect Cancers Create Risks for Those Who Use Them

The tests screen for cancers that often go undetected, but they are expensive and some experts worry they could lead to unnecessary treatments without saving patients’ lives.

 Testing your genes for cancer risk is way cheaper now — and it could save your life

Experts say that millions of people in the U.S. are walking around with a genetic variant that raises their risk of developing cancer. The vast majority of them have no clue. That's a problem, because people who know they're at a higher risk for certain cancers can take action, like going for more frequent screening tests such as colonoscopies and mammograms or even having preventive surgeries. A simple, relatively inexpensive blood test can now check dozens of genes associated with different kinds of cancers — cancers of the breast, ovaries, colon, pancreas, stomach, prostate and more.

 What can genetic testing really tell you?

Risk is not a diagnosis.

Previously Featured

Are We Close to Having a Blood Test That Detects Cancer?

New research into “liquid biopsies” is promising, but there’s still not proof they can find cancer in a healthy person.

Cancer Runs in Families. Too Few Are Getting Tested

Uncovering genetic mutations can guide treatment and prevention.

FDA Authorizes Blood Test for Assessing Risk of Hereditary Cancers

The test, the Invitae Common Hereditary Cancers Panel, analyzes a person’s blood sample for changes in 47 genes that are linked to hereditary forms of cancer. FDA described the test as “an important public health tool that can offer individuals more information about their health, including possible predisposition to certain cancers.”

Few People with Cancer Undergo Testing for Inherited Gene Mutations

Although the study could not account for why germline testing rates remain low, Drs. Stadler and Schrag explained that both health care system related issues, such as limited access to genetic counselors, and patient-level factors, such as uncertainty or mistrust of genetic testing, are likely both key contributors.

Five important facts about genetic testing and ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment

Genetic testing can determine whether a woman with ovarian cancer carries germline (inherited) and/or somatic (acquired, located only in the tumor) BRCA gene mutations — BRCA1 or BRCA2 — as well as several other mutations unrelated to BRCA. There are two types of genetic tests that can be given and are used to identify different mutations.

Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer: How It Works

Current medical guidelines recommend that people who have a personal or family history of cancer undergo genetic testing for hereditary cancer. Also known as family, inherited, or genetic cancer syndrome, these terms refer to when an abnormal, or mutated, gene is passed from parent to child that can greatly increase the risk of certain cancers.

Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Risk

Genetic testing looks for specific inherited changes (sometimes called mutations or pathogenic variants) in a person’s genes that may increase the risk of diseases such as cancer. About 5%–10% of all cancers are thought to be caused by harmful genetic changes that are inherited from a parent.

Genetics and Cancer Risk: Real-World Benefits of Genetic Testing

As the genetic aspects of cancer continue to be elucidated, genetic testing’s role in cancer care continues to expand. This growth represents an important step forward for the treatment of people who are predisposed to cancer, as genetic testing and identification of genetic mutations provide the opportunity for referral of these individuals to cancer screening and risk-reduction strategies that can reduce cancer incidence and mortality.

Should you get tested for a BRCA gene mutation? It’s complicated.

Certain genetic mutations can boost your risk of breast cancer. Here’s what experts say you need to know when making the decision to get tested.

The Unbearably Slow Adoption of Genetic Cancer Tests

Discovering genes that increase the risk of tumors is one thing—but actually using that knowledge to help people is another.

Why I Did Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes put women at an increased risk for breast cancer—but companies like Color Genomics make it easier for ladies to get answers

Resources

Color

Color offers one of the most accessible, clinical-grade genetic testing services available today, analyzing genes associated with risk for common cancers and heart conditions — and how the body may process certain medications.

GRAIL

Our mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. We are working to change the trajectory of cancer mortality and bring stakeholders together to adopt innovative, safe and effective technologies that can transform cancer screening.

Myriad Genetics

As a leader in genetic testing and precision medicine, we provide insights that help people take control of their health and enable healthcare providers to better detect, treat and prevent disease.