Why Get Tested?
Deciding to get tested for the BRCA mutations is a personal choice. Only you can decide what is right for you. If you have Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, your chance of having a BRCA gene is about 1 in 40. That is about ten times higher than the average person.
Some people feel nervous about finding out whether they carry a BRCA gene. It can be upsetting at first to learn you have one. But most people adjust over time and do not feel more anxious in the long run.
It is important to know that having a BRCA gene does not mean you will get cancer. It means you have the chance to take steps to lower your risk or get the right treatment if cancer develops.
Some benefits of testing are:
A sense of relief from uncertainty
Reducing the risk of cancer by taking preventative efforts, if you have a positive result
In-depth knowledge about your cancer risk
Information to help make informed medical and lifestyle decisions
The opportunity to help educate other family members about potential risk
Earlier cancer detection, which increases the chance of successful treatment
Some drawbacks of testing are:
Testing may initially increase anxiety and stress for some people
Testing does not eliminate the risk of cancer
Results in some cases may return inconclusive or uncertain
There may be consequences for life and extended health coverage for insurance, despite Canada’s Genetic Non-Discrimination Act
Learn more about the GNDA here. There is also a companion blog detailing the act and it’s limitations in depth written by the law offices of Taylor & Blair.
Private testing can sometimes be expensive, if you don’t qualify for publicly-funded testing in BC. We at BRCAinBC want to ensure that anyone who wants to get tested is able to, through our Genetic Testing Bursary program. Recently, the guidelines at the BC Cancer Hereditary Cancer Program have changed to allow all people with Ashkenazi Jewish Heritage to access free testing, regardless of personal or family history of cancer.