Any Canadian had BRCA testing done privately?

Options
learnin
learnin Member Posts: 205
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

Hi folks. I got the blood test for BRCA drawn in Oct/05 but still no results. I am considering doing it privately. Has anyone done this? What lab did you use and how much did it cost? Thanks.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • lzcait
    lzcait Member Posts: 70
    edited January 2007
    I cannot answer for Canadians...I'm in the US, but I had it done in December 2006 and got my results in 3 weeks...cost was not covered by my insurance and was $3,000. And fortunately mine was negative.

    Cait
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited January 2007
    Hmmm...... the analysis of the blood required for this is really complex; I didn't know that any private labs did it and I would certainly want an experienced technician working on my sample.

    I had my testing down at Mt. Sinai in Toronto. Because of backlog, it took about 4 months to get my preliminary results and another couple of months for the final results. I actually got the results in less time then they'd said. When I had the blood sample taken, I was offered the option to pay to have the sample sent to a lab in the U.S., which would have cut the time down to 30 days. The cost was $250 (I think, or was it $500? No more than that for sure.). I didn't pay because I knew that even if I tested positive, I wasn't going to jump to any decisions so the extra wait time was fine with me.

    Where did you get your test done? While the wait times for results are much longer here in Canada than in the U.S., 15-16 months is way outside the norm. How long did they originally say it would take to get results?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • learnin
    learnin Member Posts: 205
    edited January 2007

    I got it done through the cancer clinic in Sudbury. They then ship it out - to Ottawa I think. They quoted 6 - 12 months at the outset. I have been in contant with them, and they apparently have been trying repeatedly to get the lab to give them a timeline. Apparently my situation is not unique - they have lots of people waiting a long time. It's frustrating for me (and my sisters).

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • earlybird
    earlybird Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2007

    I had my blood drawn October 2004 and got my results this January. I was told at the time it would take 2 years and it did. I am in Calgary. I was told I could pay for it and get the results quicker, but I was in no hurry since I took the test for my daughter's information.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dcissurvivor
    dcissurvivor Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2007

    I had my testing done at the University Hospital Genetics Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. I was given the phone number by my cancer surgeon. I had my results back in 3 1/2 months. The results were positive so both my daughters were tested about 2 months ago and await results, I hope they hear back as soon as I did.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Aladora
    Aladora Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2007
    I had mine done at Victoria General Hospital through the BC Cancer Agency and was told to expect results in 3-6 months. Apparently, they wait until they have a batch filled and then they run the whole batch at once.

    Ugh, I really hope that I'm on the 3 month side rather than the 6!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • learnin
    learnin Member Posts: 205
    edited February 2007
    Did you know... Myriad, the company in the US that does the BRCA testing has a patent - not only on the test, but also the genes, any mutations in the genes, any knowlege derived from that gene now or in the future... A patent on a gene that is a part of my body! Even though the test Myriad developed was founded on years of publicly funded research! The patent effectively shut down any other research, development, or testing on these genes! Europe wisely revoked this patent in 2004 but it is still in place in Canada and the US. The testing that Ontario does is in defiance of this patent (using a different testing method, and costing only 1/3 the amount). Myriad ordered the Canadian provinces to "cease and desist" the testing, and BC did stop testing a few years ago, until they made an arrangement to send their tests to Ontario.
    Maybe this corporate money grab is part of the reason there is such a huge lag in getting test results...
    http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3172_31282995_32749610_langId-en,00.html
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2007

    Interesting! I knew that Myriad was the main lab that did the testing but I didn't know that it was because of a patent. *%*&#@!!! That's absurd. At least Ontario has the common sense to defy the patent.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • learnin
    learnin Member Posts: 205
    edited May 2007

    Got my results finally - and am BRCA2 positive. My dad is also. Now the testing of other family members begins.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • idohair
    idohair Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2007

    i got mine done in calgary in summer of 2006 and i had them done in like 4 months or so............ it was quick....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories