Today we’ll consider the importance of BRCA testing for those who are in certain risk categories.

If you aren’t familiar, the BRCA blood test checks for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.

These mutations are linked to increased genetic risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as prostate and pancreatic cancer and also melanoma.

Some indications that you are at increased risk of having a mutation are a family history of:

• multiple relatives with breast cancer
• one relative with ovarian cancer
• a relative with breast and ovarian cancer
• a relative with cancer in both breasts
• a relative with breast cancer before age 50
• a male relative with breast cancer
• a relative with a known BRCA mutation

It is definitely something to discuss with your primary care physician and determine if you should be screened.

Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Grace and Blessings.