Positive

A positive test means that the patient has a 40% to 85% chance of developing breast cancer due to their inheritance of the mutated gene. Therefore, a patient who receives a positive test result will not necessarily develop cancer. One should take these results to a genetic counselor who will explain the results and how they might influence the patient as well as their children. Those with positive test results may feel anxious and depressed from thoughts of impending breast cancer. Patients may also feel guilt towards their offspring, worried that they have passed on this mutation, or concern for their close female relatives who may also have this mutation. In addition, [|genetic discrimination] is a rare but possible issue for those who test positive; patients may have trouble getting insured or employed as a result. There are various medical options for those patients who test positive for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations:

Surveillance

Prophylactic Mastectomy

Oophorectomy

Chemoprevention