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Genetic breast cancer testing can determine whether you have the genetic mutations that increase your risk for developing breast cancer. More than 254,000 women received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2009. For most, the disease was an anomaly--no one else in their families had ever had cancer. But, up to 10 percent of these new cases resulted from a genetic abnormality.
Breast cancer will affect one out of every eight women, according to statistics from the medical site Medline Plus. It is likely that you or someone you know will experience breast cancer. Understanding test results will help communication with doctors when discussing diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone released by the placenta during pregnancy. Pregnancy tests are designed to detect the presence of hCG to register a positive response. Pregnancy is the most likely cause of hCG lab elevations, but there are other disorders that can cause elevated hCG levels.
A breast marker test is designed to check your breast for cancer characteristics. Your physician may use a variety of tests to identify how much cancer cellular activity is going on within your body. For example, a blood sample may be taken to find a specific protein that is only expressed when breast cancer is present. According to the site Breast Cancer, if the protein is found, the protein will serve as an identifiable "marker" for cancer.
A cancer marker or tumor marker is a substance that is detected within the body of someone with cancer. The substance can be detected through urine, blood, or from the tumor itself. Cancer markers are used by physicians to determine early detection, aggressiveness of cancer, if certain treatment is working, or if there is a recurrence.
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the milk-producing ducts in the breasts, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of breast cancer, such as lumps in the breasts, are not always evident before the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, but there are a number of tests used to find breast cancer during its early stages.
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells in the breasts. Your primary care physician can give you a clinical breast exam to test for breast cancer. She will check the breast for lumps and suspicious skin conditions and may check the nipples for fluid. Your doctor may also refer you to a gynecologist for the test, which is often included in a woman's yearly gynecological exam.
