Myriad

Myriad Genetics (http://www.myriad.com/) has had BRCA 1 and 2 testing available since 1996. Currently there are over 2000 variations in BRCA 1 and 2 genes that have been shown to be "deleterious" mutations, in that they are responsible for an increased risk in breast and ovarian cancer. New deleterious mutations are being discovered and confirmed with some regularity.

At this point, approximately 5% of mutations identified are labeled "mutations of undetermined significance" - this means that there is a gene abnormality, but there is not enough data to know if the mutation is a harmful one or not - realize that many gene mutations do not confer an increased risk. According to one of the researchers at Myriad, when they first started testing in 1996, "15 to 40% of the people getting tested had a variant of uncertain significance. That is now under 5%, because we have made enormous progress in our ability to study variants and figure out if they cause an increased risk for cancer. But there are still a lot of variants for which we need more information". Myriad Genetics (http://www.myriad.com/) has had BRCA 1 and 2 testing available since 1996. Currently there are over 2000 variations in BRCA 1 and 2 genes that have been shown to be "deleterious" mutations, in that they are responsible for an increased risk in breast and ovarian cancer. New deleterious mutations are being discovered and confirmed with some regularity.

At this point, approximately 5% of mutations identified are labeled "mutations of undetermined significance" - this means that there is a gene abnormality, but there is not enough data to know if the mutation is a harmful one or not - realize that many gene mutations do not confer an increased risk. According to one of the researchers at Myriad, when they first started testing in 1996, "15 to 40% of the people getting tested had a variant of uncertain significance. That is now under 5%, because we have made enormous progress in our ability to study variants and figure out if they cause an increased risk for cancer. But there are still a lot of variants for which we need more information".

Not sure, but as a Caregiver, I know that it is really difficult to balance. Not sure, but as a Caregiver, I know that it is really difficult to balance.