Genetic Testing for Oncology

Use genetic testing to help reduce cancer risks among family members. They can recommend early screening or risk-cutting surgery as ways of mitigating cancer risks.

Genetic tests may reveal gene changes not yet associated with cancer or other conditions; your doctor and genetic counselor will keep you up-to-date as more research into them progresses.

What is Genetic Testing?

Genetic counselors will conduct a detailed review of your family medical history and test results, to determine whether any inherited mutations that increase cancer risk have been passed down to you.

They’ll also explain how any test results can have an effect on you or family members; for instance if BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations that contribute to breast and ovarian cancer, screenings at an earlier age or considering preventive surgery might be recommended. You can visit this helpful site for more information.

Your test results can provide valuable information for you and your healthcare team when making decisions about how best to manage hereditary cancer risk. For instance, they could lead to discussions among family members regarding whether they may also be at increased risk and encourage them to get tested. You could give copies of your results so they can share it with their health care providers.

How is Genetic Testing Done?

Genetic testing seeks out specific changes (variants) in genes linked with increased cancer risk. Harmful variants have been linked with BRCA mutations that increase breast and ovarian cancer risk as well as Lynch syndrome which increases colon and uterine cancer risks. A health care team may recommend genetic testing for oncology and urology after conducting risk evaluation and counseling sessions involving genetic counseling sessions; during which, their genetic counselor will explain its risks and benefits, including accuracy.

They’ll also outline how test results might influence treatment decisions as well as assist you in making up your mind if it comes time. They will also discuss with whom else could get tested should it become necessary in case family members as well.

Lab technicians will collect blood or saliva samples and send them for analysis by an independent laboratory, and once returned the genetic counselor will explain what it means in terms of cancer risk and possible implications.

Gene testing may produce unclear or incomprehensible results, known as variants of unknown significance (VUS). Researchers are still exploring what these variants mean and whether they might impact cancer risk.

What is the Result of Genetic Testing?

Genetic tests identify genetic mutations that increase cancer risk. Depending on the type of test taken, mutations could include normal cells, tumor cells or both. As there are hundreds of hereditary mutations known to cause cancer, screening tests can often produce confusing results; consulting with a genetic counselor will help make sense of them all and guide future decisions regarding any particular test taken.

If a genetic test reveals that you have an increased cancer risk, it is crucial that you discuss this information with your physician and discuss preventative treatments as a possible solution. These could include having surgery prior to showing any symptoms of cancer arising, receiving regular screenings, or taking medicine to lower cancer risks.

Genetic tests can evoke strong emotions. Some may feel angry, guilty, depressed or anxious even though their DNA doesn’t show hereditary cancer risk. Genetic counseling can provide valuable insight into what’s causing such emotions and ways to manage them effectively.

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What is the Implication of Genetic Testing?

An unexpected positive test result could indicate an inherited mutation that increases your risk for cancer, providing insight that will enable you and your healthcare team to take steps toward cancer prevention or early diagnosis and treatment, including screening programs or medical care decisions.

Negative test results mean that genetic testing did not detect an inherited mutation known to increase cancer risk, although this doesn’t guarantee you won’t get cancer; rather, this suggests your risk levels should remain comparable with the general population’s risk levels. These positive results provide peace of mind while helping other family members decide whether or not they need testing done as well.

Not all cancers have genetic components; additionally, certain inherited gene mutations only increase cancer risk under specific circumstances – for instance if someone in their family already had cancer at an older age and/or multiple affected family members are present.

Genetic counselors can assist you in understanding what your test results mean and how they might affect you and your family. A genetic counselor will explain how results are interpreted and can assist with discussing them among family members as well as making choices about what steps should be taken next. They may even refer you to healthcare providers specializing in cancer genetics should that become necessary.

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