August 7, 2009
KENS 5 San Antonio
Interview with Dr. Jayasree Rao of Oncology San Antonio

Knowing Breast Cancer Genetics Can Help in Decision-making - Oncology San Antonio Offers Genetic Testing for Patients
by Wendy Rigby

A local oncology office is offering genetic testing for breast cancer. It’s a simple medical procedure that can make a huge difference for some women. The easy blood test can have a major impact on an important health care decision.

One vial of blood sent away to a lab can determine if a woman has a gene mutation that puts her at greater risk of developing breast cancer. The lab looks for mutations of genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2.

“The patients who have the gene mutation are at five-fold higher risk of developing breast cancer than the general population,” said Dr. Jayasree Rao, medical oncologist with Oncology San Antonio. It was an important test for 31-year-old Treasure Oines, who lost her father to the disease and has a history of it going back four generations. Her blood sample was sent to Myriad Genetics in Utah to see if she needed any kind of preventive treatment or surgery to save her life long-term. Oines got the news she wanted to hear. Her results were negative. No mutation detected.

“I prepared myself for her to come in and say ‘Okay, we need to scheduled a mastectomy,’” Oines admitted. “And then she came in and said it was negative, and it was tearful.” For other women already diagnosed with breast cancer, the test can help decide whether they need a simple lumpectomy or a full mastectomy.

“It’s not just about cosmetics,” Rao cautioned. “It’s also about survival. We need to know beforehand if she has this mutation or not. So if she does have the mutation, a simple lumpectomy is not going to be enough."

People who may consider genetic testing include those with a personal or family history of:

• Breast cancer before age 50
• Ovarian cancer at any age
• Bilateral or ipsilateral breast cancer
• Both breast and ovarian cancer in an individual
• Male breast cancer at any age
• Women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent with breast or ovarian cancer at any age
• A previously identified BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation in the family

For those with risk factors, the genetic testing for breast cancer is usually covered by insurance. The test results take a couple of weeks to come back. While the waiting is hard, many oncologists believe the knowledge is worth the wait.