Our office has a passion for women’s health issues. Over the past few years there has been an explosion in the amount of information on breast cancer. Our role is to help you navigate through all your choices to help you find a path that makes sense to you and your situation. We are offering a new service of genetic counseling specific for those women considering testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
New tests allow us to look for abnormality in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Our genetic counseling will help you decide if you should take this test and work through the list of potential risks, benefits and short comings of gene testing as they relate to your specific situation.
Almost all conversations regarding cancer are scary and we all know friends and family affected by various cancers. We will sit with you and help you sort through the facts so that you can make informed choices regarding your health.
We will take a full and detailed family medical history from you, as every family is different. A family history will help us assess what risk you have developing cancer. We can then discuss with you the options of genetic testing and both the risks and benefits of testing.
The test for BRCA1 and BRCA2 is a simple blood test. The test is not always covered by insurance and is a little pricey. Results typically take 2 weeks to come back to us.
Regardless of the outcome of the test we will sit with you and walk you through your health care options. With the counselor you would discuss topics such as : Do you change your screening exam practices? Do you consider working with preventative medications? What are the full range of choices offered to you?
For more on genetic counseling for breast cancer give us a call at 716-650-5548
There is a lot of information about genetic testing for these mutations. One website we like is the www.breastcancer.org. Below is their overview to BRCA testing:
“With improvements in testing technique – we are learning how to better use the information from genetic testing – in particular if there is an abnormality in what have come to be known as the “breast cancer genes,” BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene one) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene two). Many inherited cases of breast cancer have been associated with these two genes.
Women who inherit a mutation, or abnormal change, in either of these genes — from their mothers or their fathers — have a much higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Men with these mutations have an increased risk of breast cancer, especially if the BRCA2 gene is affected, and possibly of prostate cancer.
The function of the BRCA genes is to keep breast cells growing normally and prevent any cancer cell growth. But when these genes contain the mutations that are passed from generation to generation, they do not function normally and breast cancer risk increases. Abnormal BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes may account for up to 10% of all breast cancers, or 1 out of every 10 cases.
Remember that most people who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease. However, when a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer is present, there may be reason to believe that a person has inherited a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Some people choose to undergo genetic testing to find out. A genetic test involves giving a blood sample that can be analyzed to pick up any abnormalities in these genes.”
For more from this site click here:
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/genetic
OBGYN in Kenmore, NY
Note our phone hours are Mon through Thursday 9-4 – and on Friday 9-12 as on Wed and Friday late in day we have phones off as we look after patients.
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