King’s Daughters offers genetic testing at both its Center for Advanced
Imaging and the Oncology Center of Excellence. The test is often provided
to patients who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Testing
can reveal BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 mutations, along with a variety of other
genetic abnormalities associated with cancer.
Genetic testing can help guide treatment choices and can reveal susceptibility
to other cancers.
“In patients with a cancer diagnosis, this information may change
their treatment,” said King’s Daughters breast surgeon M.
Katherine Hughes, M.D. “It may change their plan with drugs, like
chemotherapy drugs. It may also change whether or not they’re a
candidate for radiation or impact their surgical management.”
Sometimes women with breast cancer choose to have genetic testing to help
identify risks to other family members. There is a 50% chance a patient’s
BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 breast cancer gene mutation could be passed to a child,
regardless of gender. Patients with a gene mutation often choose to notify
immediate and second-degree relatives.
“Part of our job in post-test counseling is making sure that family
members have the resources, tools and information to update their family,”
said Dr. Hughes.
Counseling prior to genetic testing informs patients about the procedure
and how results could affect them and their families. The presence of
a genetic mutation does not mean an individual will get breast cancer,
but does reveal that they are at an increased risk of developing it, Dr.
Hughes said. Finding a gene mutation is rare, but the discovery of one
is very important.
Patients are not required to undergo genetic testing, but Dr. Hughes noted
most opt to do it.
Those with a family history of cancer who are deemed by their healthcare
provider to be at high risk for developing breast cancer can also undergo
the testing. King’s Daughters oncologist Chad Tarabolous, M.D.,
noted, these individuals usually have a first-degree relative with a cancer
diagnosis.
“These individuals are typically at a young age, usually less than
the age of 50,” said Dr. Tarabolous. “Before we didn’t
really have a process set up where we could do genetic testing so a lot
of it was sent out to other facilities. With the format that we have in
place now, when patients that are diagnosed with breast cancer come into
their clinic appointments, we can incorporate their genetic testing into
that actual appointment,” said Dr. Tarabolous.
Results are usually available in 10 to 14 days. Health insurance typically
covers genetic testing for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer,
but insurance coverage does vary. A physician order is not needed for
genetic testing. For more information on King’s Daughters’
genetic testing call (606) 408-2650.
