NorthShore University HealthSystem

The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) made recommendations in 2005 as to who should be referred for genetic counseling for an evaluation for the BRCA genes; the guidelines can be found here: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf05/brcagen/brcagenrs.htm

The National Comprehensive

If you are exposed to harmful toxins or chemicals, it can affect the way the genes in your body work and can potentially cause mutations in your genes that could lead to future disease. However, for his to occur, you generally need a long term exposure to the harmful substance and this varies depending

If you have had colon cancer, the benefits of genetic testing could help determine whether you face an increased risk of developing a second colon cancer or whether your chance of developing other types of cancers is higher. Further, genetic testing can help benefit your family in determining whether

Technically, genetic testing for breast cancer just involves giving either a blood or saliva sample. The sample is then sent to a genetic testing laboratory where they read the genetic code of which ever gene you are being evaluated for. Genetic testing generally takes 2-3 weeks to get the results

Not necessarily. If there is a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome in your family, your chance of getting colon or other cancers is elevated ONLY if you have also inherited the susceptibility that is in your family. If you do not have the hereditary risk (also called gene mutation), then your risk of

Yes, you want to meet with a genetics professional for genetic counseling before undergoing genetic testing to ensure that you are properly evaluated to determine: 1) whether you are the best candidate for genetic testing and 2) which gene to test for. While many people are aware of and want testing