The US Preventative Services health guide (USPSTF) has recently released an update on the recommendations regarding the BRCA gene and genetic testing.
Angelina Jolie’s preventative surgery has bought the testing process into mainstream media and we all need to be aware of what the availability of genetic testing for cancer risk entails.
It is currently recommended that Doctors screen women who have family members with breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer and who may carry an increased risk for potentially harmful mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2). Women with positive family history screening results should receive genetic counseling and, if indicated after counseling, BRCA testing.
The USPSTF recommends against routine genetic counseling or BRCA testing for women whose family history is not associated with an increased risk for potentially harmful mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
The decision on an ‘at risk’ family history is made in consultation with your Doctor.