Southern 7 Health Department expanding genetic cancer testing

Genetic cancer testing allows individuals to learn the risks they may have for specific types of cancer.

Shawna Rhine with the Southern 7 Health Department explains why it’s important to receive this testing.

“It’s something to know about because it can help you to start treatment earlier, start prevention earlier, and it can also be something that you can share with your immediate family members again to help them, do the same,” said Rhine.

Roughly 13% of cancer cases have a hereditary component, while an additional 10% to 30% exhibit family patterns, indicating a potential family connection, despite the absence of hereditary links.

“If you test positive for a possible genetic marker, let’s say breast cancer and you’re not quite the age you can get tested for a mammogram, you can start testing earlier,” said Rhine. “So it really gives you an idea of what you’re looking at in terms of cancer history, in terms of what you’re seeing down the road.”

Genetic cancer testing through Southern 7 Health Department is available by appointment only.

All that is needed is a simple blood draw or saliva sample to determine the risk of developing breast, colorectal, ovarian, prostate, gastric, melanoma, pancreatic and uterine cancer.

“In the short amount of time that we’ve done it here at the health department, we’re seeing a 17 percent positivity rate,” Rhine said.

Rhine says that in the Southern 7 region they see higher rates of all forms of cancer, and so the cancers the test looks for are able to give people a heads up.