TULSA, Okla. — Genetic testing at Hillcrest and Utica Park Clinic is expanding.
Jennifer Powers, a PA at Utica Park Clinic Breast Care, said she’s new to the Hillcrest system and said one of her main goals is to help educate people about genetic testing.
She said genetic testing has been available, but now they’re able to offer more including counseling for patients and how they can move forward with their care.
Powers explained that she looks at testing people who may have a higher risk for cancer. With genetic testing, she said they’re able to look at tumor suppressor genes and to see if there is any mutation.
She said, “Those tests that we’re using, they look at eight different kinds of cancer and they look at about 35 different genes.” -Powers said one of the cancers they look for is breast cancer.
Powers said, “Anyone who has at least two family members that have been diagnosed with breast cancer would qualify for genetic testing.”
Some genetic mutations can increase a woman’s chance for developing breast cancer in their lifetime by about 80 percent, according to Powers.
She added, “That’s huge. And some people choose to do something about that surgically and some people choose to have a different level of monitoring.”
A normal risk of a woman getting breast cancer in their lifetime is about 12 percent.
Not only does genetic testing help patients and doctors catch something early on, but Powers said it could save someone’s life.
After getting results, she said they not only offer recommendations for that patient, but they may also offer advise for that patient’s family. Powers said, “I think when people are hesitant it’s because it feels easier when you don’t know because you don’t have to make any decisions then and you don’t have to do anything.”
But she said power is everything and added, “It enables the patient and the provider to make sure they’re the healthiest person they can be.”
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