Should You Get BRCA Gene Testing?
Should You Get BRCA Gene Testing? You might be a good candidate to for BRCA testing if you have any of the following: Personal history of breast cancer. Personal history of triple-negative breast cancer, a type of breast cancer that’s often more resistant and accounts for 10 to 15% of all breast cancers during pakage , according to the American Cancer Society. Personal history of male breast cancer. Personal history of two or more separate cancers. Family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or both. A family member with a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher risk for a BRCA gene mutation. In fact, 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish women carries the mutation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Personal history means you have personally received a medical diagnosis either presently or in the past. Family history usually includes first- and second-degree relatives, Eng says. “The closer they a...