Overview
Hereditary Cancer Risk Screening
Genetic cancer screening can help uncover a woman’s hereditary health risk before a lump is found. One in four women in the general population meet the criteria for hereditary cancer genetic testing.
Family history alone isn’t enough to determine a woman’s risk of cancer. Comprehensive risk assessment and genetic testing helps identify the women who may need additional health care.
Why Test Before a Diagnosis
Nearly half of patients with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic variant do not have a suggestive family history. Knowing your genetic status before a breast cancer diagnosis leads to better survival rates.
- 1 in 4 women meet the criteria for hereditary cancer genetic testing
- Nearly half of BRCA1/BRCA2 variant carriers have no suggestive family history
- Knowing your status early allows additional care to begin sooner
What the Evidence Shows
- 5-year survival of 94% in patients who knew their BRCA1/BRCA2 status before diagnosis
- 5-year survival of 78% in patients who only learned their status after diagnosis (P<0.03)
- A Tyrer-Cuzick score for patients who test negative, for a more complete picture of risk