ZERO – ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER NEWS
WINTER 2022/2023
GENETICS AND ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER Q&A
Q: Who in my family should consider talking to a genetic counselor or taking a genetic test? A: If you have prostate cancer, it’s usually best to start with you. If you have a mutation, then anyone else in your family can be tested to see if they inherited the mutation or not. These gene mutations are passed on from parent to child. If you have a mutation, any sibling might have also inherited it, whether they have cancer or not. Same with your children. Sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, all have a 50% chance to inherit these mutations. Q: Can you address privacy concerns that some patients may have, as well as how they’ll find out test results? A: There are laws in place to protect the privacy of your genetic test results. Myriad Genetics and many other laboratories will only release your results to your healthcare provider. When testing with Myriad Genetics, your results will be sent to the healthcare provider who ordered your test within 2-3 weeks, who will discuss the results with you. While these results are private, we encourage you to discuss them with your family to help make decisions that could save lives. Q: Does health insurance typically cover the costs of these tests? A: We are working on many fronts to make genetic testing information more accessible and affordable. 96% of patients for whom genetic testing is appropriate are covered, most of them at 100%. If there is any out of pocket or deductible, we will work with you to do whatever it takes to make sure that this information is affordable. Q: How can I get connected to a genetic counselor? A: Talk to your healthcare provider or visit your local hospital. In addition, the National Society of Genetic Counselors offers a directory to help you find a genetic counselor in your area, or via telehealth. You can visit their website at nsgc.org .
Approximately 10% of prostate cancers are thought to be caused by an inherited gene mutation. Inherited genetic mutations can be found in the BRCA1, BRCA2, and HOBX13 genes, among others. Genetic testing identifies gene mutations that can impact patients and their families. Read our Q&A below to learn more about genetic testing and advanced prostate cancer, and visit zerocancer. org/genetic-testing for more information. Q: What can our DNA tell us about family risk for prostate cancer and other cancers? A: We all have genes that protect us from getting cancer. If one of those genes has a mutation, or alteration, it can no longer protect us and thus increases our risk to develop prostate or other cancers. Q: If I have advanced disease, are there other reasons I should speak to a genetic counselor beyond understanding family risk? A: If you have advanced prostate cancer, there are now different treatment options that are targeted towards these gene mutations. Genetic testing may help you qualify for some of these treatments, including PARP-inhibitors and immunotherapies, such as pembrolizumab. These are some of the reasons the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends that all men with metastatic prostate A: A PARP inhibitor is a drug that has been targeted to treat cancers in individuals with a BRCA1, BRCA2, or a handful of other gene mutations. Q: What is immunotherapy? A: Immunotherapy, such as pembrolizumab, is a therapy that targets cancers with certain mutations and works with the immune system to fight them. cancer receive genetic testing. Q: What is a PARP Inhibitor? Rob Finch Director of Urology Medical Affairs at Myriad Genetics
There are many options for genetic testing. To learn more about one option for prostate cancer, visit prolaris.com/genetic-testing/zero22/.
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