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By Mayo Clinic staffThe first step in the BRCA gene test is to meet with a genetic counselor. In fact, as soon as you consider having any genetic test, you should first meet with a genetic counselor to determine whether it's appropriate for you.
The genetic counselor takes a detailed family and medical history, assesses your risk of developing cancer, discusses risks and benefits of genetic testing, and outlines your options.
To prepare for your meeting with a genetic counselor:
- Gather information about your family's medical history, especially that of close relatives.
- Document your personal medical history, including collecting records from specialists or results of previous genetic testing, if available.
- Write down any questions you have for the counselor.
- Consider recruiting a friend or family member to accompany you and help you ask questions or take notes.
Whether or not to proceed with genetic testing after you meet with a genetic counselor is up to you.
If you decide to have a BRCA gene test done, prepare yourself for the emotional and social implications that learning your genetic status might have. Test results could also fail to provide you with clear-cut answers regarding your cancer risk, so you should be emotionally ready to face that possibility, too.
- Peshkin BN, et al. Patient information: Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 17, 2008.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Genetic risk assessment and BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility: Recommendation statement. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2005;143:355.
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Elective and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2008;111:231.
- Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2: It's your choice. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008.
- Cancer facts and figures 2008. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/2008CAFFfinalsecured.pdf. Accessed Oct. 17, 2008.
- Brown KL, et al. Genetic counseling for breast cancer risk: General concepts, challenging themes and future directions. Breast Disease. 2006-2007;27:69.
- Lindor NM, et al. Concise handbook of familial cancer susceptibility syndromes - Second edition. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs. 2008;38:1.
- Rebbeck TR, et al. Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy reduces breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: The PROSE study group. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2004;22:1055.
- Finch A, et al. Salpingo-oophorectomy and the risk of ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers in women. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296:185.
