THE NCI AGREES: We need more genetic testing.

W agrees

Amanda reads to the whole crew.

I have written many times about the deplorable lack of genetic testing for mutations associated with ovarian and breast cancer.  The NCI now agrees with me.  After some large trials and exercises in fancy statistics they have concluded that there is a grievous deficit in testing, especially among minorities and rural women.  Knowing a woman’s status vis a vis known cancer-related mutation is important in several ways, most of which you already know or can reliably guess.  New to me was the fact that mutation-status is an important factor in determining OVCA therapy.  For instance, PARP inhibitors will work well only for certain mutation signatures.

It would be worth your while to read this short, comprehensible article:

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2019/ovarian-breast-cancer-testing-inherited-genetic-mutations?cid=eb_govdel

The article ends with the words “Every woman with ovarian cancer should know her BRCA1 or BRCA2 status.”

This is pretty much what I said six months ago:

https://ljb-quiltcutie.blogspot.com/2018/10/all-women-should-know-their-brca-status.html