- ● A personal history of breast cancer diagnosed before age 45
- ● A personal history of breast cancer diagnosed before age 50 and a second primary breast cancer, one or more relatives with breast cancer, or an unknown or limited family medical history
- ● A personal history of triple negative breast cancer diagnosed at age 60 or younger
- ● A personal history of two or more types of cancer
- ● A personal history of ovarian cancer
- ● A personal history of male breast cancer
- ● A personal history of breast cancer and one or more relatives with breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, two or more relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at any age, one or more relatives with ovarian cancer, one or more relatives with male breast cancer, or two or more relatives with prostate cancer or pancreatic cancer
- ● A personal history of breast cancer and Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish ancestry
- ● A personal history of prostate cancer or pancreatic cancer with two or more relatives with BRCA-associated cancers
- ● A history of breast cancer at a young age in two or more blood relatives, such as your parents, siblings or children
- ● A relative with a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
- ● One or more relatives with a history of cancer that would meet any of these criteria for gene testing
Read more here.
Risks of Genetic Testing
There is no medical risk associated with being tested for a BRCA gene mutation other than the slight risks associated with a blood draw (lightheadedness, bleeding, or bruising).
The test itself is simple. It involves taking a small sample of your blood and sending it to a special lab.
Most insurance companies will cover the cost of genetic testing for those who meet the conditions for testing. Keep in mind that BRCA is rare, and just testing “positive” for a BRCA mutation does not guarantee the development of cancer. Many individuals carry the gene mutation, and cancer never develops.
Find a Genetic Counselor: https://findageneticcounselor.nsgc.org