Genetic Testing and Breast Cancer - Should I Get Tested and How?

[@naththomas9946]

Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for your informative medical advice on genetic testing.

[@yerbba]

Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@SK-my4vx]

Thank you for this useful video. If someone has been diagnosed with breast cancer, what would be the recommended time to have the genetic testing?

[@yerbba]

Thanks for the question. Some people would choose different surgery if they were found to have a gene mutation. For example instead of having a lumptectomy, they would prefer mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy. Those people often want to know before they have surgery. Others are not concerned about knowing after surgery and having an additional procedure if they choose mastectomy. Because we are now offering the PARP inhibitors after chemotherapy to people with a BRCA mutation and residual (remainining) disease after chemotherapy, getting tested earlier makes sense if you fall into this category. It's never too late to find out, however, because there are implications for your care after breast cancer treatment for both you and your family. Thanks for writing.

[@SK-my4vx]

@@yerbba thank you so much for your reply and for always dedicating your precious time to educate me/us. It means a lot. God bless you 🌸💖

[@Riturajjj5678]

My mother diagnosed for breast cancer and after her lumpectomy we got her genetic testing done as she is only 47 years old and she is having ATM gene mutation what are the chances of cancer coming back again and what are chances for me to get cancer She had her surgery done and she is ER PR positive and her2 negative doctors here in India told for 4 cycles of chemotherapy and 15 radiations earlier before the genetics testing doctors said her for 5 radiations in 5 weeks (per week 1 radiation) after genetic test they said for 15 radiations for consecutive days

[@yerbba]

Thanks for writing. It's hard to know precisely someone's prognosis without being involved in a patient's care. It sounds as if your mother has been getting comprehensive treatment.

[@melanieproctor3931]

I'm pal.b2 what does that mean for my children

[@yerbba]

Thanks so much for writing, and we realized we missed your question last week. PALB2 mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Children, brothers, sisters, and parents each have a 50-50 chance of having the same mutation. People with PALB2 mutations do not all get cancer. Once your children are adults, having them tested can help them have the correct screening and preventive measures to decrease their risk of cancer and to catch any cancer early. If your siblings and parents haven't already been tested, letting them know this information can be helpful.