7/29/2019 October Genetic Testing

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/october-genetic-testing 1/1Page 52 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Bloomington — October 2013

it will be a covered benefit. You may be a candidate for heredcancer testing if you have/had:

• Breast cancer before age 50

• Ovarian cancer at any age

• Both breast and ovarian cancer

• Male breast cancer at any age

• Two or more breast cancers in a family, one under age 50

• Women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent with breast or ovarian ca

• A previously identified BRCA mutation in the family

Individuals should talk to their health care provider an

referred for genetic counseling to evaluate if they are a cand

for testing. A genetics professional (a certified genetic coun

or specially trained oncology nurse) uses a tool called a ped

to record the family history to establish the pattern of cancer ifamily. The session will also include discussion about the te

process; implications the test results can have on medical m

agement, not only for the person being tested, but for family m

bers if the test would come back positive; as well as the emot

impact if the person testing would test positive. The test req

submission of saliva or a blood sample submitted to a lab

offers this specialized testing procedure. Results generally

two weeks to complete.

For more information, please visit www.myriadtests.com o

Community Cancer Center — The Leader in Cancer Care —

www.cancercenter.org or 309-451-8500.

Back in May, you may recall the shocking announcement

that Angelina Jolie had undergone a double mastectomy(removal of both breasts) and reconstructive surgery. Ange-

lina Jolie did not have a cancer diagnosis but had tested positive

for a BRCA1 gene mutation. Since that announcement, her image

and story has graced the cover of many websites and magazines

across the country. In making the choice to come public with this

very private information, she has used her fame to help increase

awareness about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome

which may actually help save the lives of other women not aware

of this hereditary condition.

In 1994, scientists discovered two genes that, when mutated

(or altered), greatly increase the risk of a person developing breast

and/or ovarian cancer. The genes are known as BRCA1 and

BRCA2. These genes give instructions for proteins to suppress

tumor growth and to help repair damaged DNA. Both genes servea protective function against cancer and are present in men and

women. When a mutation in either gene exists, there is a higher

risk of developing cancer. Although breast and ovarian cancers are

the most common, other cancers may also result from a mutation

in either of the genes.

Everyone is born with two copies of approximately 25,000

genes. One copy comes from your mother and one copy comes

from your father. With regard to breast and ovarian cancer, when

a woman inherits a mutated (or altered) BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene

from either parent, her risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer

is significantly increased. Each child has a 50 percent risk of 

inheriting the mutation from a carrier parent. What most people

do not know is that these mutations are very rare with approxi-

mately five to seven percent of women diagnosed with breastcancer having an altered gene or genetic mutation. This means

for the vast majority of women, the risk factors for developing

breast cancer are not genetic but rather come from other factors

such as diet and lifestyle.

So who should have BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing? The

National Comprehensive Cancer Network has established criteria

for medical professionals to follow when recommending genetic

testing for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer syndrome.

Many insurance companies also use these criteria to determine if 

 Who Should Be Tested?By Becky Powell, MS, RN, AOCN, Health Educator, Community Cancer Center

genetic testing

 

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Spook-t acular Senior Celebrat ion!

Come at your own risk...

Join us at your own risk for an aernoon of live entertainment, refreshments,

door prizes, trick-or-treang and Bingo! Meet representaves from the area’s

top agencies in senior care and cast your vote in our costume contest.

You won’t want to miss this Spook-tacular Senior Celebraon! 

 F R  E E 

 e v e n t 

Hosted by: 

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Event Sponsor:

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

1:00 - 3:00 PM

Second Presbyterian Church

313 N. East Street, Bloomington