featured-image

As cancer treatment and survivorship care relies more on understanding the genetic make-up of an individual's tumor, a new study from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center finds that many breast cancer survivors who meet criteria for genetic counseling and testing are not receiving it. The good news: Among those who do get testing, nearly two-thirds who have a genetic variant are reaching out to family members to talk about their results. Our findings support a rapidly growing movement to simplify clinical guidelines to increase access to genetic testing and clinical impact of the results after diagnosis and into survivorship.

" Steven J. Katz, M.D.



, M.P.H.

, lead study author, professor of internal medicine and of health management and policy at the University of Michigan Researchers surveyed 1,412 women seven months and again six years after they were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer . The patients were identified through Georgia and Los Angeles County Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results, or SEER, registries. Participants were asked whether they received genetic counseling or testing and if so, whether they talked with relatives about results.

Clinical guidelines are changing to include more people eligible for genetic testing. The tests themselves are including more genes that could help guide not only treatment but follow-up care and screening. Results can also impact family members who may also be at increased risk of cancer.

The study found t.

Back to Health Page