Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer

Transcript

• 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.