Genetic Testing & Counseling

Advancements in genetic testing and precision medicine have revolutionized the management of patients with mutations that increase the risk of hereditary breast cancer. Individuals with known gene mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and others), now benefit from tailored risk assessment, enhanced surveillance, and proactive risk-reduction strategies. State-of-the-art care includes personalized screening protocols with MRI, chemoprevention options like tamoxifen, and surgical interventions such as risk-reducing mastectomy or oophorectomy when appropriate. For those with a family history suggestive of a mutation but without confirmed genetic results, multi-gene panel testing and expert counseling guide decision-making. The integration of genetics into breast cancer care allows for a more individualized, proactive approach, empowering patients with knowledge and choices that align with their risk profile and personal values.

The next level in cancer genetics is an organized approach to managing mutation carriers: a Hereditary Cancer Clinic where patients with mutations can be set up with a personalized strategy for managing their particular mutation based on their clinical situation. While the past has emphasized testing, the future will emphasize proper management of the massive numbers of carriers that will be found at every health system.

The challenge is integrating these solutions such that no patient is missed, that operations are oiled for maximum efficiency and efficacy, and that recommendations are standardized across the health system: this is where BCA can help...

Click to contact us to discuss your health system's needs.

Kevin Hughes, MD

Senior High Risk & Genetics Advisor

Special thanks to Dr. Hughes for sharing this fantastic site: Cancer Susceptibility Genes

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