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How Genetic and Genomic Testing Can Help Women Make Smarter Cancer Decisions

Being aware of personal and family <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/cancer">cancer</a></span> risk may be a critical component in women's knowledge and empowerment to make appropriate screening, prevention and treatment decisions.

Cancer treatment is fast evolving. Doctors are now focusing more on the person than the location or type of cancer and are considering the personal attributes of the patient and the disease. Genetic/genomic testing can complement this and can offer something more that could inform personalised cancer care.

<h2>Genetic testing: Knowing your inherited risk</h2>

Genetic testing screens for changes in the genes that could be passed down from parents. Some genetic mutations passed down from parents can make a woman more likely to get breast or ovarian cancer.

Having such a genetic change does not mean that a woman will develop cancer. This information will help her and her doctor discuss screening, monitoring and preventive action (if applicable) to reduce her risk. 

This information may be useful for family members who could be at risk and should talk to their health care provider about their own risk.

<h2>Genomic testing: Understanding the cancer better</h2>

There is a difference between genetic testing and genomic testing. Genetic testing is usually performed on blood or saliva to look for inherited changes or genetic predisposition. Genomic testing is usually performed on the tumour or blood to identify its molecular features to enable better understanding of its biology and biomarkers.

Cancer is not one disease and even two patients with the same type of cancer can have different biological characteristics, which can help doctors decide on the treatment and options that may be suitable for an individual patient. 

Genomic testing could help to pinpoint features of a tumour that can be used to consider particular targeted treatments or other methods. But not all of them will be suitable or available to all patients based on the results of testing.

<h2>Why Awareness About Health Issues Is Important </h2>

For women, knowing their family history and discussing any concerns with a doctor can be an important starting point. Genetic or genomic testing should not be done simply because it is available. A specialist may recommend testing based on factors such as family history, age at diagnosis and the type of cancer involved.

It is also important to understand test results correctly. Genetic counselling and discussions with an oncology specialist can help women understand what their results mean and what they do not mean.

Ultimately, genetic and genomic testing is not about predicting the future with certainty. It is about giving patients and doctors more information to make better-informed decisions.

As cancer care moves towards greater personalisation, the freedom to know your risk can become a powerful part of taking control of your health—helping women move from fear and uncertainty towards awareness, informed choices and personalised care.

<strong><em>(Dr. <span rel="noindex">Jyoti Wadhwa</span>, Principal Lead, Medical &amp; Precision Oncology, Apollo Athenaa Women’s Cancer Center)</em></strong>

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Being aware of personal and family cancer risk may be a critical component in women's knowledge and empowerment to make appropriate screening, prevention and treatment decisions.Cancer treatment is fast evolving. Doctors are now focusing more on the person than the location or type of cancer and are considering the personal attributes of the patient and the disease. Genetic/genomic testing can complement this and can offer something more that could inform personalised cancer care.Genetic testing: Knowing your inherited riskGenetic testing screens for changes in the genes that could be passed down from parents. Some genetic mutations passed down from parents can make a woman more likely to get breast or ovarian cancer.Having such a genetic change does not mean that a woman will develop cancer. This information will help her and her doctor discuss screening, monitoring and preventive action (if applicable) to reduce her risk. This information may be useful for family members who could be at risk and should talk to their health care provider about their own risk.Genomic testing: Understanding the cancer betterThere is a difference between genetic testing and genomic testing. Genetic testing is usually performed on blood or saliva to look for inherited changes or genetic predisposition. Genomic testing is usually performed on the tumour or blood to identify its molecular features to enable better understanding of its biology and biomarkers.Cancer is not one disease and even two patients with the same type of cancer can have different biological characteristics, which can help doctors decide on the treatment and options that may be suitable for an individual patient. Genomic testing could help to pinpoint features of a tumour that can be used to consider particular targeted treatments or other methods. But not all of them will be suitable or available to all patients based on the results of testing.Why Awareness About Health Issues Is Important For women, knowing their family history and discussing any concerns with a doctor can be an important starting point. Genetic or genomic testing should not be done simply because it is available. A specialist may recommend testing based on factors such as family history, age at diagnosis and the type of cancer involved.It is also important to understand test results correctly. Genetic counselling and discussions with an oncology specialist can help women understand what their results mean and what they do not mean.Ultimately, genetic and genomic testing is not about predicting the future with certainty. It is about giving patients and doctors more information to make better-informed decisions.As cancer care moves towards greater personalisation, the freedom to know your risk can become a powerful part of taking control of your health—helping women move from fear and uncertainty towards awareness, informed choices and personalised care.(Dr. Jyoti Wadhwa, Principal Lead, Medical & Precision Oncology, Apollo Athenaa Women’s Cancer Center)

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