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Genetic Testing for People with Cancer
People with cancer should talk with their doctor about genetic testing.
cancer survivors and those in treatment should speak with a genetics expert to decide if genetic testing is right for them. About 10% of people diagnosed with cancer have an that caused their cancer.
Genetic test results may affect your cancer treatment and prognosis.
- In addition to increasing lifetime risk for cancer, , (and possibly other genes) have been linked to more aggressive, disease.
- People with mCRPC who test positive for an may benefit from targeted or to treat their cancer.
Genetic test results may help you and your relatives understand the risk for cancer and take action to stay healthy.
- If you test positive for an , you may have an increased risk for other cancers.
- Expert guidelines outline cancer screening and prevention options for people at high risk for cancer due to an .
Experts recommend genetic counseling and testing if you have cancer and any of the following applies to you:
- you had tumor testing which found a mutation that may be an (for example, if your tumor test found a , or mutation in your cancer).
- you were diagnosed with metastic cancer at any age.
- your cancer is considered very-high or high-risk based on pathology.
- you also have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
- You are Eastern European Jewish or have Jewish ancestry.
Experts also recommend genetic counseling and testing if you have cancer and any of the following:
- you have a blood relative who tested positive for an in a gene linked to cancer.
- any 1st-, 2nd-, or 3rd-degree relative on the same side of the family who has been diagnosed with:
- breast, colorectal or endometrial cancer at age 50 or younger.
- triple-negative breast, ovarian, pancreatic, male breast cancer, or prostate cancer at any age.
- three or more close blood relatives on the same side of the family (including the patient with cancer) who have been diagnosed with:
- breast cancer or cancer.
- cancers associated with , including: colorectal, endometrial, gastric, melanoma, urothelial, glioblastoma, biliary tract, or small intestinal cancers.
You may also consider genetic counseling and testing if:
- you were diagnosed with cancer at age 55 or younger, or
- you were diagnosed with intermediate-risk cancer with a finding known as intraductal/cribriform histology
If you had genetic testing in the past and tested negative, you may benefit from additional testing:
- if you had a test that only looked for one or a few genes, or
- if you had genetic testing before 2014. Genetic testing has improved, and laboratories can now find gene mutations that may have previously been missed.
- Genetic counseling and testing is also recommended for anyone with a 1st-degree or 2nd-degree relative who has been diagnosed with or high-grade cancer.
Last updated August 14, 2024