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Certain mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can increase a woman's chances of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer dramatically. But that doesn't mean all women should line up for laboratory testing to see if they have those risky versions of the genes, members of a government panel said Monday.
Unless she has a family history that makes it likely she has the harmful mutations, a woman will be unlikely to benefit from genetic counseling and genetic tests, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force wrote, in an updated draft recommendation on screening for BRCA-related cancer risk.
The group recommended that primary care doctors handle initial screening interviews to assess BRCA-related cancer risk. Women whose family histories suggest they have an elevated chance of having the harmful versions of the genes should then be referred to genetic counseling for further evaluation and discussion of the risks and benefits of testing. Only after such genetic counseling should DNA testing to look at BRCA variations be warranted, they said.
In its report, the task force outlined the risks faced by women who...
Unless she has a family history that makes it likely she has the harmful mutations, a woman will be unlikely to benefit from genetic counseling and genetic tests, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force wrote, in an updated draft recommendation on screening for BRCA-related cancer risk.
The group recommended that primary care doctors handle initial screening interviews to assess BRCA-related cancer risk. Women whose family histories suggest they have an elevated chance of having the harmful versions of the genes should then be referred to genetic counseling for further evaluation and discussion of the risks and benefits of testing. Only after such genetic counseling should DNA testing to look at BRCA variations be warranted, they said.
In its report, the task force outlined the risks faced by women who...