BRCA mutations more common than expected in young black women with breast cancer
https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY/mutations-in-young-black-women
Full article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.29645/abstract
Most estimates of the percentage of breast cancer patients with mutations in BRCA are based on studies in White women. These researchers found that Black women diagnosed at a young age with breast cancer were twice as likely to have a BRCA mutation than previously reported based on studies in White women with breast cancer diagnosed in the same age categories. This study shows how important it is for all Black women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 to speak with their doctor about genetic counseling and testing. (9/29/15)
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider
- Will my insurance pay for genetic counseling and testing?
- Can you give me a referral to a genetics expert?
- I was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, but I don’t have a family history of breast cancer. Should I still get BRCA testing?
- Will BRCA testing change my medical options?
- If I test positive, are there additional steps I can take to lower my risk for a new cancer diagnosis?
- What will BRCA testing mean for my family?
Open Clinical Trials
The following clinical trials include genetic counseling and testing.
- NCT02620852: WISDOM Study: Women Informed to Screen Depending on Measures of Risk offers women ages 40-74 the opportunity to undergo risk assessment and genetic testing in order to determine the best breast screening options based on their situation.
- NCT05562778: Chatbot to maximize hereditary cancer genetic risk assessment. Researchers are testing whether a mobile health platform, known as a "chatbot" can improve rates of genetic testing among Medicaid patients with an elevated risk having an inherited mutation.
- NCT05427240: eHealth Delivery Alternative for Cancer Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer (eReach2). This study will look at the effectiveness of offering web-based options for pre/post-test genetic counseling to provide equal or improved timely uptake of genetic services and testing.
- NCT05694559: Connecting Black Families in Houston, Texas to Hereditary Cancer Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, and Cascade Testing by Using a Simple Genetic Risk Screening Tool and Telegenetics. This study will provide genetic testing to 150 Black individuals and families and provide genetic counseling and risk reduction resources to individuals with a mutation linked to increased cancer risk.
Other genetic counseling or testing studies may be found here.
About FORCE
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization, established in 1999. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by adult hereditary cancers.