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Racial disparities in BRCA testing: Why?
https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY/racial-disparities-in-BRCA-testing
Full article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5012689/
Black women receive BRCA testing less frequently than white women. Why is that? Researchers thought the reason might be that black and white women see different health care providers. However, new research suggests that disparities in physician recommendations for testing are the cause: black women with breast cancer were less likely to receive physician recommendations for BRCA testing than white women with breast cancer. There is a need to ensure equity in physician testing recommendations for black women. (7/21/16)
Expert Guidelines
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has guidelines on who should undergo genetic counseling and testing. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you should speak with a genetics expert about genetic testing if any of the following apply to you:
- You have a blood relative who has tested positive for an inherited mutation
- You have any of the following:
- Breast cancer at age 50 or younger
- Male breast cancer at any age
- Ovarian cancer at any age
- Triple-negative breast cancer at any age
- Two separate breast cancer diagnoses
- Eastern European Jewish ancestry and breast cancer at any age
- Metastatic breast cancer
- Testing of your tumor shows a mutation in a gene that is associated with hereditary cancer
- HER2-negative breast cancer and high risk for recurrence
- Lobular breast cancer and a family history of diffuse gastric cancer
OR
- You have one or more close family members who have had:
- Young-onset or rare cancers
- Breast cancer at age 50 or younger
- Triple-negative breast cancer
- Male breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, or metastatic prostate cancer at any age
- Two separate cancer diagnoses
- Prostate cancer at age 55 or younger or metastatic prostate cancer
The American Society of Breast Cancer Surgeons (ASBrS) released guidelines in 2019 that recommend all women diagnosed with breast cancer have access to genetic testing for inherited mutations in breast cancer genes.
If you are uncertain whether you meet the guidelines above and you are interested in or considering genetic testing, you should speak with a cancer genetics expert.
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider
- I had breast cancer before the age of 50; should I consider genetic counseling or testing?
- My (sister/mom/grandma) got breast cancer at an early age, but I do not know much about my family history. Should I get consider genetic counseling and/or genetic testing?
- Some of the women on my dad’s side of the family had breast cancer before age 45. Does this affect me?
- Will my insurance cover genetic testing?
- If my insurance won't cover genetic testing and I still would like to have it, are there low-cost options for testing?
- Can you refer me to a genetic counselor?
Open Clinical Trials
Below are clinical trials that include genetic counseling and testing.
Other genetic counseling or testing studies may be found here.
The following clinical research studies focus on addressing health disparities in cancer.
About FORCE
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization, established in 1999. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by adult hereditary cancers.