You’ve seen it in the news, or maybe you’ve heard about it from friends, family, or your patients. Or perhaps you have a loved one who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Hereditary cancer risk screening is at the forefront of medical technology and is revolutionizing healthcare by unlocking information coded in your genes. But would it help you, your family, or your patients? Below, we’ve compiled some common reasons people undergo hereditary cancer screening to help you determine whether screening is the right option.

1. I have a family history of cancer and would like to understand my own cancer risk better.  

Hereditary cancer risk screening is an excellent option for individuals with a family history of cancer on one or both sides of their family. The hereditary cancer test analyzes variations you have in specific genes with an established link to cancer. It determines if you have an increased risk of eventually developing cancer. In some cases, testing may reveal what type of cancer you are at an increased risk of developing, allowing healthcare providers to more efficiently screen you for earlier, more treatable stages of disease.

2. I am unsure of my family history of cancer and would like to know if I am at an increased risk for the disease.

Fortunately, hereditary cancer screening doesn’t require any prior knowledge of your family history of cancer to determine if you have an increased risk of developing the disease. Each hereditary cancer risk screening determines which gene variations you possess in the same panel of genes, and any variations that may increase your risk for cancer are assessed to determine your future risk of developing cancer.

3. I have an average risk of breast or ovarian cancer and have Ashkenazi or Eastern European Jewish ancestry.

As our understanding of cancer genetics grows, our knowledge of ancestries with a higher-than-average likelihood of possessing a gene variation associated with hereditary cancer also rises. Ashkenazi Jewish women, for example, have a one in 40 chance of harboring a harmful variation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which significantly increases a woman’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Hereditary cancer risk screenings for people with ancestries associated with high-risk gene variations can assess potential cancer risk for individuals as well as their families.

4. I want to provide my physician with specific cancer risk information to personalize and help guide my healthcare.

Regardless of family history, many individuals choose to test for hereditary cancer gene variations to facilitate a customized approach to their healthcare. This ensures that appropriate screening measures and procedures are performed at the proper time and frequency. Likewise, physicians order hereditary cancer risk screening panels for their patients to inform their treatment decisions and provide the best care.

5. If I am at an increased risk for cancer, I would like to make proactive lifestyle changes to decrease my risk.

Knowledge is power. Establishing your cancer risk before disease development allows you to make lifestyle changes specific to your personal cancer risk that could significantly impact your future quality of life.

6. I would like to understand better the risk of passing any potentially problematic gene variations on to my children.

The likelihood of passing a particular gene variation along to your children, whether it be a variation for height, hair color, or an increased risk for cancer, is all about probability and how that specific gene works. A significant part of hereditary cancer risk screening is helping you understand every aspect of your test results and what these results mean for you and your children.

The Kadance Heritable Cancer Risk Test is just one benefit of Kadance Precision Health Management, a groundbreaking insurance program offering personalized cancer support and medication management.

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