A person's risk for getting breast cancer or ovarian cancer can now be detected through genetic testing. Although testing is not recommended for everyone, and there are many things to consider before taking that step, said Dr. Caitlin Bump, an obstetrician-gynecologist with BHS Women's Care.

Most doctors will look at a number of risk factors before recommending someone get genetic testing.

The most common and well-known genes tested for are the BRCA 1 and 2 genes, which are most associated with familial ovarian and breast cancers. Bump said there are other genes that are related to the cancers, but most tests also look for those.

“It's important to have a conversation with your family members, because it usually depends on your family history,” Bump said.

Bump said to find out if there are first-, second- or third-degree relatives who have had breast, ovarian or any kind of fallopian tube cancer. It is also important to find out the specific type of cancer it was, whether it was hormone receptor positive and the age at which the family member was diagnosed.

Finding out if a family member has had prostate, pancreatic or colon cancer is also important because some of those cancers can run with the BRCA 1 and 2 genes, she said.

A patient's personal history is also important. If someone was diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, if she'd had two types of cancer or if any male in the family has had it, then they likely should get tested, Bump said.

“Not everyone wants to know their own status but it's an important conversation to have in terms of your own health risk and your children,” she said. “It's important for the entire family.”

If the initial panel run shows the patient is negative for the cancer genes, but there is still a strong family history indicating risk, Bump said they will likely do more analysis to be sure.

Most women fill out a family health history at their annual gynecological exams, which is part of what helps doctors determine their risk factors. But Bump says if you are concerned, talk about it with your doctor.

“We're often the first line in terms of patients who are coming to get screenings,” she said. “It depends on what the mammograms say and what genetic testing says. And then we get them set up with a genetic counselor or a breast specialist.”

The test is a simple spit test that can be done in the office as long as the person hasn't had anything to eat, drink or chewed any gum in the past 30 minutes, Bump said. It can also be tested from blood.

The tests are often covered by insurance, and providers usually let the patient know if the test will be covered before the test is run, Bump said.