Can a positive test lead to early detection and aggressive disease management?
Yes. If you test positive for a genetic mutation, you have several options. The first and easiest is increased cancer surveillance. It is appropriate to begin screening at 10 years younger than the earliest age that the cancer was diagnosed in the family. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate intervals for future screening. The second option is chemoprevention. This involves taking medications that may prevent a cancer from developing. Many women at high risk for developing breast cancer are taking Tamoxifen as a prevention strategy, for example. The third, and most drastic, option is prophylactic surgery. Studies show that removing the breast before breast cancer develops does prevent the disease. It is important to remember that not all cancers develop from an inherited gene mutation, as many diseases occur randomly or as a result of external exposure or lifestyle risk factors such as smoking. You should discuss with your doctor which screening tests are appropriate for you and wh
