This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
The news of Angelina Jolie’s decision to undergo a double mastectomy is receiving praise for not only her bravery, but for bringing awearness to specific gene test to light. But that has many women wondering whether it’s a test they too, should recieve.
Dr. Stephanie Graff, an oncologist at Menorah Medical Center appeared on Wednesday’s FOX 4 Morning Show to explain more about gene testing.
Genetic Testing for BRCA 1 or 2
- Recommended that only women with a strong family history be evaluated for genetic testing for BRCA mutations. This group represents only about 2% of adult women in the United States.
- First-degree relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast cancer, one of whom was diagnosed when they were younger than 50 or more first- or second-degree relatives (includes grandmothers, aunts) diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Both breast and ovarian cancer among first- and second-degree relatives.
- A first-degree relative diagnosed with cancer in both breasts or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
- A male relative with breast cancer.
