These days, breast cancer is not the death sentence it once was about a decade ago. Still, no one wants to have to deal with the fear and hassle involved with a cancer diagnosis. I’m sure you have better things to do, such as living your life! That’s why it’s extremely important to take advantage of the ways we can prevent and detect breast cancer early on.

One way to do so is to find out if you have a genetic predisposition for breast cancer. If you do, that means you have genes that put you at a higher risk for the disease, something you can find out through genetic testing. So, has your curiosity has been piqued enough to make you wonder, “Do I have genes that put me at a greater risk?”

At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, we go by the slogan, “Knowledge that will change your world.” We are firm believers that knowledge is power! And genetic testing is an example of that: it gives you the power to take charge of your health. It can equip you with information that’ll help you make better choices in your diet and lifestyle, take certain medications, and/or get screened regularly to prevent breast cancer from affecting you. With genetic testing, your doctor can also determine, based on your genes, which treatment plans are most beneficial to you if you do get diagnosed. Finally, a genetic counselor can help your family know whether increased cancer screening or cancer risk-reducing options would be  good for them too.

Take a look at the expert advice here on our website by clicking the following link. Feel free to check out this video of Megan Farmer explaining breast cancer risk and genetics. You may also visit our Find Support tab to identify local resources by clicking the genetics link. The Bring Your Brave CDC website has numerous short videos that are great resources as well. And if you’re craving even more information and desire to learn about young women who benefitted from genetic testing, you can always listen to their stories!