Time to testing for hereditary cancer: A comparison of age at cancer diagnosis and genetic testing

Presenting Author: Magan Trottier, MS, CGC

Take home points: 

1. Significant Delays Exist Between Cancer Diagnosis and Genetic Testing: Across most cancer types, patients experience a lag of 2–4 years between diagnosis and hereditary cancer genetic testing. The longest delays were observed in ovarian (4.0 years) and kidney cancers (3.9 years), with particularly concerning delays for ovarian cancer given its treatment implications.
2. Age, Not Ethnicity, Drives Variation in Testing Timelines: The time from diagnosis to testing was generally consistent across ethnic groups, differing by ≤1 year. However, younger patients (in their 20s and 30s) tended to be tested sooner after diagnosis compared to older patients.
3. Delayed Testing May Limit Access to Targeted Therapies: The extended delay in genetic testing—especially for cancers like ovarian and pancreatic where germline results can influence treatment—underscores a critical gap in timely care that could impact patient outcomes.