Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer: Who Needs It and Why
Certain genetic mutations may be linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.
Some people have turned to genetic testing to learn their risk for breast cancer. The hope is that knowing their risk could empower them to manage other risk factors and seek early screening.
“There’s only a small percentage of breast cancers that are diagnosed that we actually believe are genetically linked,” says Brenda Panzera, MD, Oncologist and Hematologist at Lenox Hill and Mount Sinai Hospitals in New York City.
In this video, learn how genetic testing works and who may benefit from it.
- Brenda Panzera, MDDr. Panzera is a clinical instructor in hematology and oncology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and attending physician at Mount Sinai and Lenox Hill Hospitals.
References
Breastcancer.org. (2023). Breast cancer facts and statistics.
National Cancer Institute. (2013). Surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
National Cancer Institute. (2022). Hormone therapy for breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen Foundation. (2023). Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.