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GENOMICS IS A CRITICAL LENS THROUGH WHICH TO STUDY CANCER. IT ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND THE GENETIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO METASTATIC AND TREATMENT-RESISTANT CANCER. IT IS ALSO A TOOL TO HELP PREDICT HOW PATIENTS RESPOND TO EXISTING TREATMENT METHODS AND TO IDENTIFY THE BEST STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP NEW TREATMENTS.
SARA COOPER, PHD FACULTY INVESTIGATOR
IMPROVING ACCESS TO GENETIC TESTING FOR CANCER RISK
HudsonAlpha’s Information is Power initiative builds hope and saves lives by making genetic testing for cancer risk accessible across Alabama. The test checks for over 28 gene mutations known to increase cancer risk, including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, to inform participants of their risk for developing breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, pancreatic, and endometrial cancers. The Information is Power initiative has expanded into underrepresented and rural communities across Alabama
to serve those who often face higher cancer risks, as well as significant barriers to access testing. The project, called Access Matters, is fueled by funding from Russel Hill Cancer Foundation, the Alabama Power Foundation, Racial Equity Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, Daniel Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the Links Inc. of Greater Huntsville to bring the bene- fits of cancer prevention and early detection to more people, tripling minority participation in Information is Power .
PARTICIPANTS TOOK THE INFORMATION IS POWER TEST AND LEARNED THEIR CANCER RISK OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED A POSITIVE RESULT FOR CANCER RISK HAD NO STRONG HISTORY OF CANCER IN THEIR FAMILY AND LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OFFERED TESTING AT THEIR PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE OF TESTS ADMINISTERED HAVE BEEN FREE. THE OTHER 38% HAVE BEEN OFFERED AT A REDUCED COST
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