Why should you get screened and what are the methods?

When it comes to catching cancer, the earlier the better. You can potentially reduce its growth, and  metastasis i.e., spread to other parts of the body; you have more treatment options, and it’s typically seen that a patient’s rate of survival increases the earlier the cancer is caught. Take for instance breast cancer. The breast cancer treatments that have been developed over the last few decades can yield great results, especially if intervention is started early. If the cancer is localized to only the breast the patient has a 5-year relative survival of 99%, if it spreads to nearby tissues or lymph nodes (known as “regional” spread) they have a 5-year survival rate of 86% and if it starts to metastasize to other regions in the body the survival rate drops substantially [1].

Thus, the earlier you’re able to detect breast and or ovarian cancer the better the prognosis can be. Cancers are caused by genetic mutations that occur in one’s DNA. As we discussed in a previous article, the majority of breast cancers develop due to mutations in the BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 gene; most of which are inherited from a parent. One way of identifying these mutations is by undergoing a simple genetic test, in which a sample is taken and screened for any mutations that may be present that could cause cancer. Furthermore, with the advent of precision medicine, the more information we have on the genetic makeup behind a cancer the better informed treatment options can be.

To Learn More about Genetic Testing and How You Can Get Screened, Click Here