2022 Paint the Paper Pink

Page 47 2022 PAINT THE PAPER PINK Lincoln Daily News Oct/Nov 2022 Understanding Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk What is genetic testing? Genetic testing is the use of medical tests to look for certain mutations (changes) in a person’s genes. Many types of genetic tests are used today, and more are being developed. Genetic testing can be used in many ways, but here we’ll focus on how it is used to look for gene changes that are linked to cancer. Genetic testing to help evaluate cancer risk Predictive genetic testing is a type of testing used to look for inherited gene mutations that might put a person at higher risk of getting certain kinds of cancer. This type of testing might be suggested for: A person with a strong family history of certain types of cancer, to see if they carry a gene mutation that increases their risk. If they do have an inherited mutation, they might want to have screening tests to look for cancer early, or even take steps to try to lower their risk. An example is testing for changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (which are known to increase the risk of breast cancer and some other cancers) in people with several family members who have had breast cancer. A person already diagnosed with cancer, especially if there are other factors to suggest CONTINUED u