Traits and Genetic Disorders That Babies Get From Mom

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has made headlines for being a potentially hereditary—and often treatable—condition. Testing can determine whether a woman carries mutated genes (BRCA 1 & 2 or Lynch), which are markers of an increased risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers. But who should be tested?But those withfamily members who know they have the gene or were diagnosed before the age of 35, or have two family members on the same side or three all together with cancer, are good candidates for saliva testing, which consists of spitting in a cup and sending the sample to a lab. The test is a screening, so it doesn’t give a conclusive result. Still, when the result is positive, increased monitoring and care can help you detect cancer sooner.