The panel is appropriate for anyone interested in learning more about their hereditary cancer risks. Anyone who has a personal or family history of cancer may be at increased risk and should consider testing. Knowing your risk will help inform your healthcare choices.

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While the chance of identifying a mutation may be lower without a known personal or family history of cancer, anyone can carry a change in a cancer gene. Individuals with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry have a higher chance to carry a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. 

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Please note that without a personal or family history, insurance coverage is expected to be less likely.

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Each child (regardless of gender) of a parent with a cancer gene mutation has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation. Your genetic counselor can discuss the right time to test your children, as well as options for individuals who are planning to expand their families.

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If you learn you have a mutation in a cancer gene, there are many ways to maintain your health and to impact the health of your family. A genetic counselor will walk you through your results and options for next steps.

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Depending on the results, options may include:

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• Lifestyle modifications (for example: reduced alcohol consumption)

• Increased and/or more frequent cancer screening (for example: mammogram, colonoscopy, prostate exam, skin cancer screening)

• Preventative risk-reducing surgeries (for example: mastectomy, removal of ovaries after childbearing)

• Options to avoid passing down mutations to your future children (for example: in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with pre-implantation genetic testing, adoption)

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If you test positive for a mutation, you’ll be able to inform your relatives, who may also be at-risk.

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No. There are many factors that contribute to a person’s risk for developing cancer, including lifestyle, diet, environmental exposures, and chance. But some cancers are related to specific genetic  changes that are inherited. For example, about 5-10% of breast cancers and about 20-25% of ovarian cancers are due to inherited genetic changes. A person may have an inherited change in a cancer gene even if cancer hasn’t occurred in their family. If you have specific questions related to your personal or family history of cancer, please contact a jscreen genetic counselor at genetic.counselor@jscreen.org. 

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Yes. Genetic testing can help inform decisions about cancer treatments, including surgery, medications, clinical trials, and future surveillance. It can also be informative for other family members if a genetic risk is identified.

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Note: please contact us HERE prior to registration if you have a current or past diagnosis of a hematological malignancy (blood cancer) or have received a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.