Being diagnosed with a hereditary condition can be scary. That’s why early detection is so important and can make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting in front of a disease.
Many people have a family history of cancer, but only 5-10% of prostate cancer is hereditary.
People who have these gene mutations are born with them – they do not develop over time.
Learning if you have an inherited mutation can help you know more about your cancer risks.
People with a higher chance of developing cancer may need screening, like prostate exams, that start at younger ages, and occur more often.
If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, hereditary prostate cancer genetic testing may be something for you and/or your
family members to consider.
1
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Have you/your family members* been diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age (<50 years old)? |
2
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Have you/your family members* been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer at any age? |
3
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Have you/your family members* been diagnosed with more than one cancer, such as prostate and male breast cancer? |
4
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Have multiple people on the same side of your family had breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and/or other cancers? |
5
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Have any of your family members* been found to have a cancer gene mutation? |
Your healthcare provider may identify other reasons why you could consider genetic testing.
* ”Family members” refers to blood relatives, such as brothers/sisters/parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins
For You:
Your healthcare provider can adjust your cancer screening plan (such as age of initial screening, type, and frequency) based on your genetic test results.
Your doctor may discuss the possibility of other personalized treatment options based on your genetic test results.
for your family members:
If you test positive for a genetic mutation, your close family members (like your parents, brothers, sisters, children) have a 50/50 random chance of also having the same mutation.
Positive
A mutation was found in at least one of the genes tested
There are increased risks for cancer and may be management recommendations specific to the gene that has a mutation Genetic testing for certain family members may be recommended
Negative
No genetic changes were found in any of the genes tested
Cancer risk(s) and management recommendations are based on personal and family history Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if genetic testing should be considered for your family members
variant of unknown significance (vus)
At least one genetic change was found, but it is unclear if this change causes an increased risk for cancer or not
Cancer risk(s) and management recommendations are based on personal and family history Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if genetic testing should be considered for your family members
It is possible to have a combination of positive and VUS results, since multiple genes are tested.