Who should consider genetic testing?
Hereditary Cancer
3 min read
Genetic testing is very helpful in unlocking the inner workings of a person’s genome makeup. None more so then helping to identify inherited mutations in cancer genes. GenomeSmart deďŹ nes the potential of genetic testing to help you make informed decisions.
Who should consider genetic testing? Genetic testing is used to identify inherited mutations in cancer susceptibility genes. It is generally done using a spit(saliva) test or cheek swab. Important factors to consider before undergoing genetic testing include personal or family history of cancer and ancestry (Ashkenazi Jewish in particular).
What if I have a personal history of This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more cancer? Got it!
Testing is essential in helping make well-informed decisions about both treating cancer and preventing disease for patients and their families. Cancer patients who test positive can be vigilant for other related cancers and their doctors may use the information to offer targeted treatments. Testing can also help identify at-risk family members. Those with a positive test can watch more carefully for disease, while those who test negative can be reassured and follow general screening recommendations. If you have already been diagnosed with cancer, should you do additional testing? Not all cancer patients need hereditary cancer testing. The decision to test depends on family history, individual cancer history, and ethnicity. Some diagnosed patients undergo tumor testing to identify gene changes in the tumor. These can predict the individual’s prognosis and can help identify the best course of treatment. However, tumor testing would not indicate if the cancer is hereditary but it can give clues or raise ags which may lead to additional genetic testing.
What if I have a family history of cancer? Family history is an important element in deciding whether to get genetic testing for a hereditary cancer. If cancer runs in your family (among parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins, going back X generations), genetic testing might provide you with useful information about your risk of also getting cancer someday. It can also ease your mind if you did not inherit a particular mutation related to cancer. Considering relatives from the same side of the family (at a time) is important while determining risk for developing a hereditary cancer. The risk of hereditary cancer is higher if relatives from same side of the family have been diagnosed with: Related or similar cancers, Multiple cancers, or Cancer at a relatively early age (before age 50)
GenomeSmart can help you learn if you have relevant personal and/or family history and need to consider genetic testing.
Types of hereditary cancer Following are some of the types of hereditary cancer syndromes that researchers have found are related to speciďŹ c genetic mutations. Remember, testing positive is not a guarantee you’ll get the disease, but may increase the risk. Genes Id
Syndrome
most commonly
Related cancer types:
implicated Hereditary breast 1
cancer and
BRCA1,
Breast (male and female), Ovarian,
ovarian cancer
BRCA2
Prostate, Pancreatic
syndrome 2
3
Li-Fraumeni syndrome Cowden syndrome
Breast, Soft tissue sarcoma, TP53
Osteosarcoma, Leukemia, Brain tumors, Adrenocortical carcinoma
PTEN
Breast, Thyroid, Endometrial
MSH2, 4 Lynch syndrome
MLH1,
Colorectal, Endometrial, Ovarian, Renal
MSH6,
pelvis, Pancreatic, Small intestine, Liver
PMS2,
and biliary tract, Stomach, Brain, Breast
EPCAM Familial 5 adenomatous polyposis
Colorectal cancer, Small intestine APC
cancer, Brain cancer, Stomach cancer, Bone cancer, Skin cancer
GenomeSmart can empower you with understanding of genetic tests. Use that information to talk with a health care professional and your family to
make informed decisions about genetic testing.
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