BRCA & GENETIC TESTING
Fear grows in the unknown.
Knowledge gives us a place to stand.
Genetic testing cannot predict your future. It can give you information to understand your risk, talk with your family, and make informed decisions with your medical team.
A PLACE TO BEGIN
One conversation can replace a little uncertainty with clarity.
Learning that cancer may run in your family can bring up questions you never expected to face. You do not need all the answers today. Sometimes the first step is simply learning what to ask.
UNDERSTANDING BRCA
Everyone has BRCA genes.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 help repair damaged DNA and protect cells. Some people inherit a harmful change in one of these genes that can increase the chance of developing certain cancers.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW
A harmful BRCA variant is not a cancer diagnosis.
It does not mean you currently have cancer, and it does not mean you are guaranteed to develop it. It means your risk may be higher and that you may have more options for screening, prevention, or treatment.
More than breast cancer
Harmful BRCA variants can also raise the risk of ovarian, male breast, prostate, pancreatic, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers.
Either side of the family
A BRCA variant can come from your mother or father. It can be passed to daughters or sons, which is why both sides of your family history matter.
Risk is not certainty
Knowing about increased risk can give you and your care team the opportunity to create a plan that fits your health, values, and family.
50%
If a person carries a harmful BRCA variant, each of their children has a 1 in 2 chance of inheriting it.
KNOWLEDGE CAN REACH A FAMILY
One result may help more than one person.
Genetic testing is different from most medical tests because the result may also tell your parents, siblings, children, and other blood relatives something about their own health.
That can feel heavy. It can also create an opportunity for a family to ask questions earlier and make choices with better information.
SHOULD I CONSIDER TESTING?
Your story and your family history are the starting point.
Having one of these factors does not automatically mean you carry a harmful variant. It means a conversation with a qualified health care provider may be worthwhile.
Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50
Triple-negative breast cancer
Male breast cancer
Ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer
Pancreatic cancer or metastatic prostate cancer
Cancer in both breasts or more than one BRCA-related cancer
Several relatives with breast or ovarian cancer
A known inherited cancer variant in the family
WHAT TESTING LOOKS LIKE
Start with questions, not assumptions.
Your health care provider can help you consider which test may fit your history and what the possible results could mean.
Tell your story
Review cancer history on both sides of your family, including cancer types and ages at diagnosis.
Ask about test options
Testing may focus on BRCA1 and BRCA2 or use a multigene panel, depending on your personal and family history.
Give a sample
Most clinical genetic testing uses a blood or saliva sample that is sent to a laboratory.
Understand the result
Review the result in the context of your health and family history before making medical decisions
UNDERSTANDING RESULTS
A result needs context.
The same word on a laboratory report can mean something different depending on your health, your family, and whether a specific variant has already been identified in a relative.
POSITIVE
A harmful variant was found
This is not a cancer diagnosis. It means your risk may be higher and your medical team can help you build a plan for screening, prevention, or treatment.
NEGATIVE
No harmful variant was found
The meaning depends on your family history and whether a specific variant is already known in your family. Your history may still shape your care.
VUS
A change is not yet understood
A variant of uncertain significance is not the same as a positive result. Ask your health care provider what is known and whether the classification changes over time.
THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF KNOWING
You do not have to carry uncertainty alone.
Genetic testing can bring relief, clarity, fear, grief, guilt, or all of these at once. You may worry about your children or struggle with when and how to share information with relatives.
At Adventure Therapy Foundation, we believe uncertainty should not be faced in isolation. Information can help combat fear, but information also needs space, support, and connection.
Give yourself permission to ask questions, take time, and reach for people who can help you process what you have learned.
COMMON QUESTIONS
A little more clarity.
Does a positive BRCA result mean I have cancer?
No. A positive result means a harmful inherited variant was found and your risk for certain cancers may be higher. It does not mean you currently have cancer or are certain to develop it.
Can BRCA variants come from my father?
Yes. A harmful BRCA variant can be inherited from either parent and can be passed to children of any sex. Your father's family history matters just as much as your mother's.
Who in a family should be tested first?
When possible, testing often begins with a family member who has had a BRCA-related cancer. This can make the result more informative for other relatives.
Will a negative result rule out inherited cancer risk?
Not always. If your family has a known harmful variant and you did not inherit it, the result can be reassuring. If no family variant is known, a negative result may be less conclusive.
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Get the free starter guide.
Complete the form below and we will email you the guide about genetic testing resources. You can also choose to receive the ATF newsletter.
TRUSTED RESOURCES
Keep learning. Find people who understand.
A previvor is someone with an increased cancer risk who has not been diagnosed with cancer. These organizations offer education, stories, and support for people navigating inherited risk.
FORCE:
Previvor resources and hereditary cancer support
THE PREVIVOR:
Breast cancer prevention options and personal guidance
BASSER CENTER FOR BRCA
BRCA research, education, and support
SHARSHERET
Support and resources for hereditary cancer communities
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUE
BRCA gene changes, cancer risk, and genetic testing
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
Genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
This page is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Genetic testing and cancer-risk decisions should be discussed with a qualified health care provider.
Helping families impacted by cancer to move beyond fear, isolation, and broken identity.