Spit in a little tube, mail it off, and for around $100 you can find out all about your ancestry. Those same DNA results can be uploaded to external sites like GEDMatch, allowing law enforcement to track down cold case leads. With the exponential leaps in DNA technology, it’s now even possible to determine if you’re at a higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer. If you’re debating whether to have the BRCA test done to determine your cancer risk, here is information that can help you make that difficult choice.

The Upside of BRCA Testing

In your twenties, your wellness checkup usually focuses on pregnancy, pregnancy prevention, and sexually transmitted diseases. Your doctor checks your breasts and asks if you’re doing monthly self-checks. She’ll feel for your ovaries but can’t feel the early changes that cancer can bring. For most people, this is all they need.

However, if you have changes to your BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, you could be at a significantly higher risk of developing breast, ovarian and other cancers at a young age.  For example, well over half of women will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes with a BRCA mutation. Compare that to just 13% of women in the general population. Breast cancer, though, has a great treatment outcome, especially compared to ovarian cancer.

While ovarian cancer is more rare, affecting about 1 in 100 women during their lifetimes, a BRCA mutation increases that risk to 40 in 100 or higher.  The 10-year survival rate for ovarian cancer hovers at 36%, while the same survival rate for non-metastatic breast cancer is 84%.

All of these details are to point out the importance of knowing whether you have a BRCA mutation. Not having a mutation doesn’t mean you won’t get cancer. Having a mutation doesn’t mean you will get cancer. What it does mean is that you can take steps to prevent cancer early on.

Some women decide to have a mastectomy or oophorectomy. Others will begin having more thorough exams, including mammograms, at an earlier age. If you have the warning signs in your family history, most insurance companies will cover the cost of the test. Even if you have to pay for it on your own, DNA testing prices have become quite reasonable, but there are drawbacks to having the test too.

The Downside of BRCA Testing

The problem with BRCA testing is the murky area developing in insurance coverage. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 means that health insurance companies can’t use your DNA results to deny coverage or increase your rates, but that’s not true for life insurance and at least one company is denying life insurance policies based on your BRCA results.

It’s also important to be aware that a 2018 study of genetic tests sold directly to consumers found a 40% rate of false positives. Even if your test is positive for a mutation, you must work with your physician to verify and make a plan.

Overall, the knowledge you will gain outweighs the potential downsides of BRCA testing.

Have you considered taking a BRCA Test?

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