Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer
January 16, 2024ID11184
To CiteDCA Citation Guide
- 00:00You're receiving this message because you
- 00:03have a personal or family history of cancer.
- 00:07Current medical guidelines recommend that
- 00:09you have genetic testing to see if you
- 00:11might be at an increased risk for the
- 00:14type of cancer that might be inherited.
- 00:16In other words, a risk that might
- 00:18have been passed on to you from
- 00:20your biological mother or father.
- 00:22Imagine your DNA is like a book
- 00:24containing all the instructions
- 00:26for your body and its functions.
- 00:28Sometimes changes or mutations can
- 00:30occur in this book that increase
- 00:32the risk of certain diseases,
- 00:34including cancer.
- 00:36Genetic testing is like reading that book.
- 00:39It allows us to identify the mutations
- 00:41that can be passed down through families.
- 00:44It helps us understand if you have
- 00:46an increased risk of developing
- 00:48certain types of cancer.
- 00:50Current methods allow us to test for
- 00:52many different genes associated with risk
- 00:54for cancer types such as breast cancer,
- 00:57colon cancer,
- 00:58prostate cancer, and others.
- 01:01This is called the hereditary cancer gene.
- 01:03Panel Testing is done using a small
- 01:06sample of your blood or saliva.
- 01:09This sample contains your DNA,
- 01:11which will be analyzed in a specialized lab.
- 01:15There are three possible results
- 01:17of genetic testing, positive,
- 01:19negative and a variant of
- 01:22uncertain significance or Vus.
- 01:25A positive result means a harmful
- 01:27change or mutation was found.
- 01:29This means you were born with an increased
- 01:32risk to develop certain cancers.
- 01:34It does not mean that you will get cancer,
- 01:36just that you have a higher risk.
- 01:39A positive result can also provide
- 01:41important information to your relatives
- 01:43who may want to get tested to see
- 01:45if they are also at a higher risk.
- 01:47A negative result means no
- 01:50known mutations were detected.
- 01:52Even though this negative finding
- 01:53is reassuring,
- 01:54it is possible that you are at an
- 01:57increased risk for some cancers
- 01:58that were not part of this test.
- 02:00For that reason,
- 02:02it is very important that you follow
- 02:04your healthcare providers recommendations.
- 02:07A variant of uncertain significance,
- 02:09also known as Vus,
- 02:11means that a genetic change was identified,
- 02:14but there's limited information at this
- 02:16time about the meaning of this finding.
- 02:19Similar to a negative result,
- 02:20you may still have an increased risk
- 02:23for cancer based on family history.
- 02:25You should discuss this with your doctor
- 02:27for further screening recommendations.
- 02:29There are some reasons that people may
- 02:31decide not to pursue genetic testing,
- 02:33such as concerns about discrimination.
- 02:36There are laws such as the Genetic
- 02:39Information Non Discrimination Act
- 02:41known as Gina that provides some
- 02:43protection from discrimination
- 02:45based on genetic test results.
- 02:47Gina applies to health insurance
- 02:48and employment,
- 02:50but does not apply to life,
- 02:51long term care, or disability insurance.
- 02:55Ultimately, it is up to you to decide
- 02:58what is best for your health. Remember,
- 03:01knowledge is power.
- 03:02Identifying your hereditary cancer
- 03:04risk early can make a significant
- 03:07difference in your overall health.
- 03:09It can serve as a guide for your
- 03:11future healthcare decisions.
- 03:12It also allows for a personalized
- 03:15cancer prevention and cancer screening
- 03:17plan for you and your family.
- 03:20If you are interested in moving
- 03:22forward with genetic testing,
- 03:23have any questions,
- 03:24or want to learn more,
- 03:26please proceed to the following form.
- 03:29Knowing the story of your
- 03:31DNA gives you a tool,
- 03:32one that you can use to influence
- 03:34your health over your lifetime.