What We Test

Hereditary cancer genetic testing evaluates for high-risk mutations associated with:

• Breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1, BRCA2, and others)
• Colon cancer (Lynch syndrome, FAP)
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Other hereditary cancer syndromes

 

Why This Matters

If you carry a high-risk mutation:

• Your lifetime cancer risk may be 40-80% (vs. 10-15% general population)
• Cancer may develop decades earlier than average
• Standard screening timelines may be too late

Early identification allows us to:

• Start screening earlier (sometimes in your 20s or 30s)
• Screen more frequently
• Use advanced detection methods
• Implement risk-reduction strategies
• Guide family members toward testing

 

Who Should Consider Testing

• Family history of early-onset cancer
• Multiple family members with the same cancer type
• Personal history of cancer at young age
• Certain ethnic backgrounds with higher mutation prevalence
• Anyone who wants comprehensive risk assessment

 

What Happens If You Test Positive

A positive result doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get cancer, it means you need a different prevention strategy:

• More frequent screening (annual MRI, colonoscopy, etc.)
• Earlier screening start dates
• Risk-reducing medications when appropriate
• Lifestyle modifications to lower risk
• Surgical options in extreme cases (preventive mastectomy, etc.)

Genetics doesn’t guarantee cancer, but it defines vulnerability, which changes everything about prevention.