one out of ten new cancer diagnoses is thought to be contributed by a gene one was inherited with. please understand, having a 'high risk' gene does NOT mean cancer is inevitable, but rather, that the risk is higher--to what extent depending on what mutation--than average. mutations like BRCA, thus, qualify Americans to have..? more frequent 'screening for cancer', than average. or, to even 'cover' taking that 'high risk' area out. please remember, too, that 9 out of 10 are NOT bc of inherited genes, but lifestyle or what happened in your life TIME. so even if 'cancer runs in the family', realize, so do behaviors. similar diets families were raised with, smoking / drinking behaviors, same environment meaning same air / same water source, etc. Genetic testing has been approved for many years, but what's interesting if not curious, is that the FDA authorized Invitae's cancer hereditary risk panel to be marketed to the public. As easy as it is to want to suspect it being a 'dollars' decision, the fact remains- knowing one has a higher risk of a certain cancer and either screening frequently or considering 'prophylactic' measures to reduce chances, have indeed demonstrated the difference of facing a diagnosis, and not. interestingly enough, for patients WITH cancer, these mutations can function as targets for therapy, too. if a family history of cancer runs strong, whether in frequency or in age, some may argue it's worth asking your primary doctor or a geneticist about to see if guidelines recommend testing for yourself or your loved one. #beatcancer #brca #breastcancer #prostatecancer #coloncancer #lynchsyndrome #pancreaticcancer #ovariancancer #stomachcancer