Are You Predisposed To Cancer?

Many Americans are turning to new technologies to learn if they are at risk for cancer, as medical researchers have concluded that the risk of developing certain types of cancer runs in families.

New types of genetic tests that simply require a blood or urine sample can help determine if you are predisposed to such cancers as breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, bladder cancer, prostate cancer and others.

Once armed with the knowledge of whether or not you are predisposed to certain cancers, you can work closely with your doctor to plan for regular screenings and to lower risks by modifying diet or behavior.

“Some kinds of cancer run in families, in genes that are the blueprints of our bodies. Genetic tests look for inherited alterations in genes that may increase your risk for a certain cancer,” says Robert Gasparini, President and Chief Scientific Officer of NeoGenomics Laboratories which specializes in cancer genetics testing.

In the case of breast cancer, for instance, up to ten percent of all breast cancer sufferers have an inherited form of the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

“But having an inherited mutation in a gene that predisposes you to a cancer doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop that cancer,” stresses Gasparini.

Indeed, a number of medical experts believe many cancers require patients to have a predisposition – such as an inherited genetic mutation – and then a trigger mechanism must come into play for cancer to develop. Triggers can include poor diet, smoking, drinking in excess, or even such factors as where you live, with some research indicating that living in polluted areas, near high power lines or radiation can trigger cancer.

Learning if you are predisposed to certain types of cancer can help you and your doctor plan for how often you should be screened, what lifestyle modifications you should make, and even can provide you with information about cancer risk for other family members and your children.

“Of course, accurate testing is even more important when a patient already has developed suspicious symptoms. And once symptoms have appeared, speed is critical,” says Gasparini.

Nearly everyone has had this experience: The doctor spots something suspicious and orders additional tests. Now comes the hard part: waiting days or weeks for results that can bring a sigh of relief or massive life upheavals. Each day lost waiting can make a difference in treatment effectiveness and outcome.

Put simply: for many cancers, the faster you are diagnosed and begin treatment the better chance of survival.

This is why you should make sure your doctor is sending your tests to labs with both accurate and fast turnarounds. With this in mind, NeoGenomics has initiated diagnostic services that cut test result turnaround time in half. The company’s labs specialize in genetic and molecular testing that combines advanced equipment with innovative analytic algorithms that return test results to the doctor faster.

“Quality is expected in a high-complexity cancer-testing laboratory.  Turnaround time becomes the single most important factor when a doctor orders a test for a patient who has a symptom of cancer,” Gasparini emphasizes.

For more information on cancer and testing, visit the National Cancer Institute.