Genetic Testing Is a Helpful Tool for Cancer Patients
- “Baywatch” star Nicole Eggert, 51, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She said she’s undergoing tests to determine the best course of treatment, which may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.
- Genetic tests can be as simple as a simple saliva swab or blood sample. The results help your care team determine if you have a specific mutation that puts you at higher risk for cancer. The results help doctors tailor your treatment and are helpful for breast cancer patients.
- Germline genetic testing for inherited predisposition for breast (and ovarian) cancer can include just BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing (gene mutations that elevate cancer risk) or a more comprehensive gene panel that might include 15-25 genes.
- Genetic counselors help patients better understand the results of genetic testing. Patients should ask their care team for a counselor if they’ve undergone genetic testing.
- Eggert was diagnosed with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer after discovering a lump in her breast while performing a self-breast exam. The rare type of breast cancer Eggert has is often slow-growing and low-grade.
“Baywatch” star Nicole Eggert, 51, is struggling to cope with an emotional breast cancer diagnosis as a single mother of two. She’s still in the early stages of her journey and is undergoing additional testing to learn the best course of treatment. While she didn’t explicitly detail her testing, genetic testing is immensely beneficial in breast cancer.
Genetic tests can be as simple as a simple saliva swab or blood sample. The results help your care team determine if you have a specific mutation that puts you at higher risk for cancer.
Read MoreRELATED: Should I Get Genetic Testing to Assess My Risk for Breast Cancer?
How Genetic Testing Helps Cancer Patients
- Genetic Testing Can Empower You With Important Information
- Genetic Testing Can Help Guide Ovarian Cancer Treatment Decisions
- Considering Genetic Testing? Talk to Family if You Can
- Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer Can Be Life-Saving For Some: For Others, It Only Causes Confusion and Stress
- Getting Genetic Testing for Your Kids — a Tough, but Crucial Call
Eggert’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis and How Genetic Testing Can Help
Eggert was diagnosed with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer after discovering a lump in her breast while performing a self-breast exam. This type of exam is an easy way to keep watch for anything abnormal regarding your breasts. It involves feeling the breast for any swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple. Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found that is concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note self-exams should be done in conjunction with regular mammograms.
Eggert said she began experiencing “terrible pain” and rapid weight gain that she first dismissed for signs of menopause. However, after she discovered a lump during a self-exam, a mammogram, and multiple biopsies confirmed that she had breast cancer.
The rare type of breast cancer Eggert has is often slow-growing and low-grade, according to Breast Cancer Now.
“I can definitely feel it. It’s there. It needs to be taken out. So it’s just a matter of do I have to do treatment before the surgery or can they perform the surgery and then I do the treatment after,” Eggert told People.
Eggert is anticipating chemotherapy and radiation therapy for treatment.
Determining the best course of treatment will likely be tied to initial tests the “Charles in Charge” star received upon her diagnosis.
Which Mutations Are Important to Look for in Breast Cancer?
Dr. Julie R. Gralow, the Chief Medical officer and the Executive Vice President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, tells SurvivorNet that “Germline genetic testing for inherited predisposition for breast (and ovarian) cancer can include just BRCA1/2 testing or a more comprehensive gene panel that might include 15-25 genes.”
Related: Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer: What is This Type of Test? And What Do My Results Mean?
The infamous BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes are still the most important ones to look for in breast cancer. Together, they are responsible for about half of all hereditary breast cancers. In a person without mutations, these genes work to prevent cells from dividing haphazardly and uncontrollably. Mutations prevent these genes from doing their job and can allow unchecked growth of breast, ovarian, and other tissues. This voracious growth paves the path for cancer development.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations increase the risk of developing breast cancer by up to 85% during their lifetime. To break it down, only 13% of all women will develop breast cancer during their lifetimes. If they carry the mutations, their risk increases to 45%-72%, depending upon their exact mutation.
The presence of such mutations can have a significant impact on the treatment options for women carrying them. “Presence of a BRCA1/2 gene mutation (or others associated with high risk) may impact surgical decision-making in a patient who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer,” says Dr. Gralow. “It should not really impact treatment of the current cancer (eligibility for lumpectomy versus mastectomy), but the presence of such a mutation carries a very high risk of developing a second breast cancer, so bilateral mastectomy is a reasonable consideration to reduce the risk of second cancer.”
Recent research has also identified other mutations, which may also increase the risk of breast cancer development. These include changes in the PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, KRAS, CDH1, TP53, PTEN, and numerous other genes. Modern genetic testing panels can simultaneously look for mutations in more than 80 genes.
Where can you get help after undergoing genetic testing?
“If someone gets a genetic test result back, it’s really important for them to know what this is. (What does this) mean for them? Put it into context,” Dr. Elisa Port, a surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai, previously explained to SurvivorNet.
Genetic counselors help patients during this critical phase of understanding.
“What does it mean for their family members? For their relatives? Genetic counseling to follow up genetic testing is a really, really important part of the whole process and is not always available in the direct-to-consumer type avenue.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your doctor can refer you for genetic counseling based on your personal and family health history.
Help Coping with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Eggert is struggling to cope with her diagnosis. In a recent Instagram post, she said, “Some things are devastating, and other things are magical.” The photo accompanying the caption shows Eggert with her daughter.
View this post on Instagram
- Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. It can be highly cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
- Join a cancer support group. There are groups in nearly every community offering opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you about what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
