Saliva testing for breast cancer

One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. This statistic makes breast cancer the leading cancer diagnosis for women in the US. With such staggering numbers, a focus on prevention is key: how can we stop breast cancer before it starts? One way is to develop fast and convenient methods of assessing breast cancer risk. If women could identify their individual risk, it could empower them to make choices about their own preventative care before a diagnosis, hopefully reducing the prevalence of the disease. To complete the test, an individual must send a saliva sample to the company, from which DNA, the genetic material, is extracted.

Women who have inherited mutations in these genes are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer compared with the general population. The BRCA gene test is offered only to people who are likely to have an inherited mutation based on personal or family history, or who have a specific type of breast cancer. The BRCA gene test isn't routinely performed on women at average risk of breast and ovarian cancers. If you do, your result is positive and your doctor can help you understand your cancer risk. If you don't have a mutation, this is considered a negative result.

While these home-based tests have been gaining in popularity, they have significant limitations. In March, the U. Mutations within these genes can interfere with that protection. The difference can be striking. Lifetime risks for developing breast and ovarian cancer for most women are about 10 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

Genetic testing gives people the chance to learn if their breast cancer or family history of breast cancer is due to an inherited gene mutation. This section provides information on genetic counseling and testing for gene mutations that increase breast cancer risk. It also has information on inherited gene mutations and other related topics, such as the benefits and risks of testing, direct-to-consumer genetic testing and testing for multiple high-risk gene mutations panel testing. In the U. However, there are some options for lowering these risks.