According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1.8 million people will contract cancer each year. Of these, approximately 156 out of 100,000 will lose their lives to the disease. Fortunately, there are now ways to reduce the risk of cancer.
Advances in medicine now make it possible to predict the likelihood of many cancers and position both patient and physician to take proactive preventative measures to reduce the risk of cancer in many cases.
Genetic testing involves medical tests to find out if there are mutations in an individual’s genes. A relatively new advance in the world of medicine, genetic testing has been shown to be both effective in helping to reduce cancer risk and saving lives.
A powerful application of genetic testing is to look for changes in cancer-related genes. These genetic changes are called mutations and help determine the patient’s likelihood and risk of getting specific cancers.
Genetic tests for cancer are tests used to look for an inherited genetic mutation that may indicate a higher risk of getting cancer.
Genetic cancer screening may be appropriate if a person has
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A family history of cancer. The test would help determine if the individual has a genetic mutation that increases the risk.
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A person has cancer. Genetic testing for cancer could show if there is a high risk of the individual getting other types of cancer.
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Family members of a cancer patient may want to undergo genetic testing to determine if they are at risk for cancer.
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This will give them a warning that can be used for preventative or other actions under their doctor’s care. This has the potential to prevent the form of cancer from spreading to family members who share the same genetic makeup and potentially save lives now and in the future.
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Some of the common cancers that are screened for in the test include breast cancer, colon cancer, eye cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, and others.
Cancer genetic screening is a simple test that can be done at home after being approved by a doctor. The patient will receive an easy-to-use kit and collect a swab. After the test, the material is sent to the laboratory according to the instructions where the test will be carried out
The test is performed in a laboratory and the results are reported to the prescribing physician who will share the report with the patient and make suggestions on any recommended course of action to reduce the risk.
