Nearly half of the women who tested positive for breast cancer risk using available genetic tests would not be identified as “at risk” using the current genetic testing guidelines, according to the new report from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, released on Dec. 10.
Patients with cancer who do not request the most up-to-date genetic testing would run the risk of going untreated.
The current guidelines were established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network approximately 20 years ago when only several genetic mutations were known to be linked to the disease.
According to the report, these out-of-date guidelines are also used by insurance companies to decide whether they will cover the cost of a test, which may limit the number of women who choose to get more extensive testing.
In the United States, almost 330,000 patients are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. From that, an estimated 10 percent is likely due to hereditary causes that genetic tests can help detect.
