Low‐cost online cascade test may persuade relatives to investigate their own cancer risk

Abstract

Although cascade testing can be a reliable gauge of whether close relatives of individuals with cancer also carry genetic muta\xad tions associated with the disease, experts have identified several bar\xad riers that prevent this strategy from being widely used. Potential hurdles include availability, the unwillingness of private insurance companies and Medicare to cover genetic testing for cancer\xadfree individuals, and a patient’s own hesitancy to share a frightening diagnosis with relatives. An even big\xad ger obstacle may be confidentiality: Many states have laws that prevent a patient’s physician or genetic coun\xad selor from alerting family members.