Genetic testing offers possible lifesaving knowledge in fight against cancer

#Genetic_testing offers possible lifesaving knowledge in fight against #cancer

International #Conference on #Genetic_Disorders and #GeneTherapy

#August 26-27, 2019 #Bangkok, #Thailand

Theme: Current research and futuristic challenges in Genetics

visit us: https://genetics.geneticconferences.com/

Email us: geneticdisorders@expert-meetings.com

Bookmark your Dates....!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the past few months Ficocello has undergone chemotherapy, radiation and a complete mastectomy; sharing her journey with her Facebook friends every step of the way.

Part of Ficocello’s cancer treatment also included genetic testing at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach; that’s where she met Conni Murphy, a Nurse Practitioner and director of their Cancer Genetics and High Risk Program.

Murphy says on one side of the panel all the names of the different genes that can predispose someone to cancer if mutated is listed; as you go across the panel it tells you the different cancers associated with those genes.

Then Murphy says she runs risk models using information like your personal and family history to determine what your potential lifetime risk is and your five-year risk for breast cancer.

The American Society of Breast Surgeons is now recommending this type of genetic testing for anyone with a family or personal history of breast cancer; the loosened criteria means more people will now have the option to access potentially lifesaving information about themselves and their future.

For Ficocello, the genetic testing showed mutated genes, proving just how unpredictable cancer is.

“It’s not even the gene that links me to breast cancer,” she said. “It links me to like eight other things.”

Now equipped with that knowledge, Murphy and Ficocello can come up with a plan for her future together; in Ficocello’s case that led to the decision to eventually get a hysterectomy as a preventative measure against ovarian and uterine cancer which the genetic testing indicated she was high risk.

With what’s sure to be a long battle still ahead, Ficocello says she hopes others can learn from her experience.

“I have friends that post, ‘I hear your words, Andrea. I hear your warning. I am scheduling a mammo on Monday.’ To me, that means the world. If I can help one person avoid what I am having to go through right now, it’s totally worth it,” she said.

Murphy says the genetic testing is now even more affordable. She says five years ago a large panel typically cost around $5,000. Now it costs patients between $50-$250 and most of the time insurance will cover that.