Is the Invitae Breast Cancer STAT Panel the right test for you?
All of us have a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of cancer, but some common cancers – breast, melanoma, pancreatic, prostate and ovarian – are known to occur more frequently in families, passing from one generation to the next.
It’s because certain gene mutations can be inherited – particularly those in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes – and this test focuses on these, pus another six genes which can indicate additional risk.
The results will enable you and your clinician to plan screening or preventative treatment to minimise your risk and improve overall survival rates.
If you have already been diagnosed with cancer, this test is a rapid analysis that can help you make vital decisions about your treatment – particularly if you are considering surgical options.
Your clinician can explain the specific criteria which would make this the right test for you are considered to be at high risk if you have early-onset or multiple diagnoses of breast cancer, male breast cancer, and/or have a family history of disease.
To get this test you will first need a consultation with your clinician, then you can either:
- Buy it directly from this website (this cost may be covered by your medical insurance).
- Access it through your treating hospital/private healthcare provider.
This test is only available to those aged 18 years or above.
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Helping you make decisions
Understanding whether you have a genetic predisposition to cancer allows you to make informed decisions about monitoring and treatment that can significantly decrease cancer risks and improve overall survival rates.
For example, you could decide at what age to have your first mammogram and breast MRI scan – and how frequently to have them in the future.
If you need to make urgent decisions about treatment – perhaps whether to have a lump removed or a full or partial mastectomy – this test can give you and your clinician the vital knowledge to make an informed decision.
For your family
It’s also important to share the test analysis with your family: because, there could be implications for them too. For example, if a man or woman carries a mutation in BRCA1 (one of the genes tested), each of their parents (mother and father), siblings (brothers and sisters) and children (sons and daughters) have a 50% chance of carrying the same mutation. Knowing if this gene mutation is in the family means everyone can ensure they receive regular monitoring and screening.
You can discuss this with your clinician, or if you would like to talk to one of our experts about the test, call us on +44 (0) 1270 623 179
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What do I need to do?
It’s a simple ‘spit test’ that you can do in your own home – we don’t need a blood sample, all we need is your saliva. You’ll receive a kit in the post with clear instructions on giving your sample together with all the paperwork you need to sign, which you then post back to us.
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Buying the test
Step 1: There are two options:
- Via your treating hospital/private healthcare provider (we have special arrangements with many healthcare providers to enable you to access this test, click here to see the list)
- By clicking the ‘Buy direct now’ button above (the cost may be covered by your medical insurance – check your policy details)
Step 2: Collection of sample
We will liaise directly with your clinician and organise the collection of your sample and delivery to the laboratory.
Step 3: Analysis and reporting
Your sample will be analysed and a report will be generated, usually within 5-12 calendar days (7 days on average) of receipt of your sample in the laboratory.
Step 4: Results
Your clinician will receive the test report giving a clear indication of whether you are at risk of cancer or if you have already been diagnosed, what steps you – and possibly other members of your family – need to take next.
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Results
Your clinician will be able to discuss your results and their implications for you, but as a guide:
Positive
A positive result does NOT mean you have cancer, or that you will definitely develop it.
It does means that a mutation, or genetic change, has been identified in a specific gene that increases the chance of your developing certain cancers in your lifetime – and your personal results will provide more detailed information specific to you. Talk to your clinician about creating a screening and management plan for you, and to identify relatives who may also need to be tested.
Negative
A negative result means that no mutations or genetic changes associated with an increased risk of the most common hereditary cancers were identified in the genes that were analysed. The result does not eliminate your risk of developing cancer completely as there are other factors, such as lifestyle, or perhaps mutations not detected by current technology or mutations in other genes. Again, talk to your clinician about what the results mean for you.
Variant of uncertain significance
This is where a gene mutation has been found, but at present we do not know if this affects your risk of certain cancers. In this case, your clinician will be able to talk about screening recommendations based on your personal and family medical histories and if new information becomes available, Invitae will update your clinician.
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Is the Invitae Breast Cancer STAT Panel the right test for your patient?
This panel comprises genes for which there are established medical management guidelines. It may be considered for individuals with a personal and/or family history of:
- breast, ovarian, uterine/endometrial, colon, pancreatic, melanoma, sarcoma, and/or prostate cancer, particularly if early onset (<50 years)
- male breast cancer
- breast or ovarian cancer and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
There are also some common, general features suggestive of a hereditary cancer syndrome family. These include:
- cancer diagnosed at an unusually young age
- different types of cancer that have occurred independently in the same person
- cancer that has developed in both organs of a set of paired organs (e.g., both kidneys, both breasts)
- several close blood relatives that have the same type of cancer
- unusual cases of a specific cancer type (e.g., male breast cancer)
Test Description
The Invitae Breast Cancer STAT Panel includes up to 9 well-established genes that are associated with a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Accelerated turnaround time (TAT) is needed because physicians and patients often want to make surgical and management decisions as quickly as possible. Individuals who are identified with an inherited pathogenic variant have a higher risk of developing another breast cancer and may choose more aggressive surgery and/or different treatment options based on genetic testing results.
All genes on this panel have published medical management guidelines and are associated with defined hereditary cancer syndromes.
This test is appropriate for breast cancer patients with upcoming cancer-related breast surgeries and/or treatment where genetic testing may inform decisions such as lumpectomy versus mastectomy, single versus double mastectomy, or use of other treatments (such as use of PARP inhibitors or other chemotherapy regimens). Identification of a disease-causing variant may also guide testing and management of at-risk relatives. This test is specifically designed for heritable germline mutations and is not appropriate for the detection of somatic mutations in tumour tissue.
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References
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network®, Clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Breast and Ovarian Management Based on Genetic Test Results. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp. Accessed August 2018.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network®, Clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Management Guidelines for HBOC. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp Accessed September 2015.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network®, Clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Genetic/Familial High Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp Accessed January 2018.
This test is provided by:
