Genetic testing for breast cancer was put in the spotlight Tuesday when actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie revealed in a New York Times opinion article that she recently underwent a preventive double mastectomy because she carries a “faulty” gene which her doctor estimated gave her an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 per cent chance of getting ovarian cancer.
Warned!
Women have to fit a certain number of specific criteria to qualify for the blood test, and many of those who do, still won’t test positive for the gene*.
*The BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations are directly linked to both breast and ovarian cancer.
Considering genetic testing? It’s not for everyone