Download Breast Cancer: BRCA Gene Testing

Breast Cancer: BRCA Gene Testing
• You or a family member has both breast and
ovarian cancer.
• You had breast cancer in both breasts.
• You are of Ashkenazi (Eastern European)
Jewish heritage and someone in your family
had breast cancer before age 50 or ovarian
cancer at any age.
Your doctor may also want you to talk with a
genetic counselor to help you understand what
the results of this test might mean.
What are the benefits of BRCA
testing?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that help control
normal cell growth. If these genes have changes,
called mutations, they can increase the risk of
breast and ovarian cancer. If you are born with
one of these mutations, you are more likely to
get these cancers. But not everyone who has a
family history of breast or ovarian cancer has
changes in BRCA genes.
Breast cancer (BRCA) gene testing is a blood
test used to find out whether you have an
increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
People who have a changed BRCA gene are at
greater risk for developing cancer. But not
everyone with a changed gene will get cancer.
BRCA gene testing does not test for cancer
itself.
Who might need this test?
Talk to your doctor if:
• You have a close family member who has
tested positive for BRCA gene changes.
• You or a family member has had breast
cancer before age 50 or ovarian cancer at any
age.
You may feel better if the test shows that you
do not have a BRCA mutation (negative result).
If your test shows that you do have a BRCA
mutation (positive result), you might consider
steps to lower your chance of cancer. These
steps may include:
• Having regular clinical breast exams,
mammograms and/or MRIs, taking medicine,
or having your breast tissue or ovaries
removed, to help prevent breast or ovarian
cancer.
• Having your ovaries removed after you are
done having children or after age 35, to help
prevent ovarian cancer.
Your test results also may be helpful to your
family members.
What are the risks of BRCA
testing?
A negative test result may give you a false sense
of security, so you may not have the regular tests
that help find cancer at an early stage. A
negative BRCA test result does not mean that
you will never have breast or ovarian cancer. It
is important that you continue with routine care
and tests.
A positive test result may cause anxiety or
depression. A positive BRCA test does not mean
you will definitely get breast or ovarian cancer.
The results of this test need to be considered
carefully.
You may worry that test results released to
insurance companies could affect your future
employment options or the cost or availability
of insurance. But a law in the United States,
called GINA, protects people who have DNA
differences that may affect their health. It
prevents employers and health insurance
companies from using DNA information about
people to affect decisions. This law does not
cover life insurance, disability insurance, or
long-term care insurance.
Talking with a genetic counselor will help you
understand more about the test. Genetic
counselors are trained to explain the test and its
results.
To find health professionals who provide genetic
testing and counseling, call the cancer
information service at the National Cancer
Institute at 1-800-422-6237. To find a genetic
counselor near you, contact the National Society
of Genetic Counselors at (312) 321-6834. Or
visit its website at www.nsgc.org.
Is BRCA testing accurate?
No test is 100% accurate. The BRCA test cannot
find all possible changes to the genes. It is
possible that the test will show you do not have
genetic changes when you do. This is called a
false-negative test result.
If possible, try to have a family member who
has breast or ovarian cancer take the genetic test
first. If this person tests positive, it means there
is a known BRCA change in your family. Your
doctor can then check if you also have that gene
change. If your family member's test results are
negative, it usually is not helpful to test the rest
of the family.
If you have a strong family history of breast or
ovarian cancer, a negative BRCA result does
not mean you will not get cancer. There are
other causes of breast and ovarian cancer.
BRCA testing sometimes shows genetic changes
that may not be linked to cancer. More research
is needed to find out if these changes increase
cancer risk.
©2007-2015 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise disclaims any liability for use
of this information, which does not replace medical advice. 2014-11-zp4326