Newer tests clarify hereditary risk of cancer

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besa
besa Member Posts: 1,088
edited September 2014 in Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140918121340.htm

"A new generation of genetic tests can detect as many as 25 other, less common genes that show a familial predisposition to cancer.

"It's important for people to understand what genetic test they were given and how complete they were," Mahon said.

"Many people have tested negative for BRCA 1 or 2 and mistakenly think they do not have an increased hereditary risk for developing cancer. It is possible that newer testing, through next generation platforms, could identify a less common susceptibility gene and clarify their risk."

For those who had early, less complete genetic tests, catch up panels are available to screen for other genes that raise their risk of developing cancer. "Most of these genes are associated with multiple cancers," Mahon said."


 

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited September 2014

    Makes sense! I had breast cancer; my sister has melanoma; my aunt has ovarian; my uncle had pancreatic; my gradmother had ovarian; my grandfather had stomach cancer....and we test negative for BRCA.

    But, the family has been farmers for hundreds of years...you should see the list of chemicals dumped on the crops monthly. Cropdusting, toxic water tables....who knows.

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  • kamm
    kamm Member Posts: 140
    edited September 2014

    Me as well. Father- Prostate, Mother- Pancreatic, Sister-Ovarian, Me- Breast and 3 of us skin cancers. This is exactly what all 4 Docs told me as to why they wanted me to have the oopherectomy. Some kind of sub-gene most likely.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited September 2014

    This is exactly why we should be referred to a genetic doc instead of just having BRCA tests done.

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited September 2014

    I was BRCA1 and 2 negative.  My dad recently passed from pancreatic cancer.  He was tested and then I was tested and both of us were found positve for PALB2, a gene defect closely related to the BRCA2 gene.  My brother also carries the same gene mutation.

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  • kamm
    kamm Member Posts: 140
    edited September 2014

    Genetics was part of my work up. They offered more screening  but in he end I decided that it's pretty clear something is going on in my family so whether we identify the exact gene or not isn't important. The outcome is the same. My kids are going to have to be right on their screenings always and do the best they can to remain aware in all of their life choices.

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited September 2014

    I wonder if insurance companies will allow proper screenings in the future without genetic "proof" of risk. For instance, the health care system probably cannot afford to let everyone with family history get MRI scans annually. So, knowing which genes are involved is important for prevention.

    If you did not inherit the bad mutation, what a relief that would be! You still might get cancer of course but your situation/outcome would not be the same as a relative with the defect. 

    Finally, more than one's own children are a concern - we need data for many of these unique abnormalities for clinical research in order to define optimal treatment protocols. A lot of time will be wasted if people do not share their results (sign up for the PROMPT study to participate in a registry pool) 

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited September 2014

    Just registered in the PROMPT registry.  :)  Thanks for the info.

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited September 2014

    Good job weety - the numbers in the registry at www.promptstudy.org have almost doubled since I signed up there less than a week ago! Do you also look at the FORCE website?

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