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Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment

Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment

Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment (GCRA) can play an important role in a patient’s personalized cancer treatment program. Our specially trained provider can help assess your risk, explain your options and address how the results can impact your care. To find out if genetic testing is right for you, call 410.414.4717.

Who needs cancer risk assessment testing?
While the majority of cancer is not inherited, in some cases cancer can be associated with a change in a person’s gene or DNA. This broken gene can be passed down through generations, significantly increasing cancer risk in some cases. Genetic testing may be recommended for people who have had certain kinds of cancer or patterns of cancer in their family. These red flags include:

• Cancer at an early age – 50 years or younger
• Certain rare cancers – such as male and triple negative breast cancer or ovarian cancer
• Multiple cancers – multiple members within the family may have cancer or one individual may have multiple cancers

What will cancer risk assessment testing tell me?
It’s important to understand how useful testing may be for you before you do it. A genetic counselor can explain what to expect, tell you about the pros and cons of the test, what the results might mean and what your options are. Predictive genetic testing is used to look for inherited gene mutations that might put a person at higher risk of getting certain kinds of cancer. Testing after a person has been diagnosed with cancer can sometimes give information on a patient’s prognosis and whether certain types of treatment might be useful.

Why is cancer risk assessment and genetic testing important?
If you test positive, a genetic counselor can discuss the best ways to help manage your cancer risk. These may include lifestyle changes, like losing weight; increased surveillance (watching for signs and symptoms of cancer); medicines to reduce your cancer risk or even preventive surgery. CalvertHealth’s high-risk clinics are designed as an additional resource for patients who are at increased risk for cancer, providing added surveillance, management and education on risk reducing strategies.

How does it benefit my treatment?
One of the biggest advancements and areas of research is in targeting genetic mutations for treatment. One example is BRCA-associated tumors in metastatic breast and ovarian cancer. We now have specific drug treatments that may provide added benefit to breast cancer patients with this specific gene mutation.

Pre-Test Non-Imaging Video - http://adr.sh/4rqz/a3fq/e/2
Documents provided by Ambry Genetics

Want to learn more about Genetic Discrimination, click below:

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