First Coast Oncology offers genetic testing for hereditary cancer with through Myriad laboratories. We offer testing for hereditary breast cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma in our First Coast Oncology facilities in Mandarin and Fernandina Beach. Our trained genetic counselors work closely with our physicians to identify patients at risk for carrying an increased risk for these cancers.
The majority of cancers are sporadic. Only about 10% of breast and colon cancers are linked to mutations in specific genes. First Coast Oncology identifies patients at risk with guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
In patients with breast cancer we recommend testing if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- Breast cancer before the age of 50
- Ovarian cancer at any age
- Bilateral breast cancer at any age
- Both breast cancer and ovarian cancer diagnosed in the same individual
- Male breast cancer at any age
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry with breast of ovarian cancer at any age
In patients with colon cancer, we recommend testing if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- Colon cancer before the age of 50
- Endometrial cancer before the age of 50
- Multiple cancer diagnoses in one individual and/or family
- Multiple cumulative colon polyps (10 or more)
To further calculate your risk for hereditary cancer please go to http://myriadtests.com/quiz.htm?s=view.
A positive test result means that your children and siblings have a 50% risk of having the same mutation. Your treatment plan may be changed based on a positive result so it is important to identify your risk and complete testing if recommended by your physician. Currently Medicare and most insurance companies cover the cost of testing. The Myriad Reimbursement Assistance program will obtain authorization for testing. There are federal and state laws that protect insurance discrimination based on genetic information. In general, one cannot be denied insurance, dropped from their current group health insurance carrier, or individual rates increased based on genetic information. If the patient should ever feel as though they are being discriminated against based on a genetic test result, they are urged to contact the patient advocacy group FORCE (Facing Our Risk for Cancer Empowered) at www.facingourrisk.org.
