Genetic Testing FAQs
Answers to common questions about genetic testing for cancer.
AWARE Blog for Cancer Patients
At the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, we are privileged to provide the best community cancer care available for each patient. Our blog serves as an extension of this care, offering community-based resources on a wide array of cancer-related healthcare topics.
For additional information and resources, we encourage you to signup for our email communications that include our AWARE newsletter.
Assessing Your Cancer Risk with Genetic Testing
Genetic testing – looking back
The first genetic test for cancer became available in 1996. That test, the BRCA 1/2 test, looked for mutations in the two genes most commonly affected in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer — the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) genes. Since then, many more cancer genes have been identified, and tests developed to look for mutations.
Positivit-Tea
What is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water?
If you guessed tea (and had a HUGE hint from the title of this article), you are correct. The annual worldly consumption of tea is 3.6 billion cups.
A New Test for Improved Detection of Prostate Cancer: PSMA (Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen) PET Scan
A new type of scan is helping doctors at The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center detect very small, hard-to-find areas of prostate cancer, which could lead to better treatment outcomes.
Superfoods: Is there such a thing?
“If you eat certain superfoods, you won’t get cancer (or heart disease or diabetes or high blood pressure or arthritis or Alzheimer’s.” The concept of superfoods was originally developed by the United Fruit Company, banana importers, around World War I as part of a marketing campaign touting the many benefits of eating bananas, including the fact that they came in their own germ-proof package.
Spotlight on: Radiation Therapists
When undergoing radiation treatments at The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, you will meet Leever’s Radiation Therapists, who administer the doses of radiation prescribed to patients.
Spotlight on: HLRCC Front Office Staff
When people walk through the front door of the Leever Cancer Center, they are often not feeling their best. They might be feeling ill or weak from treatments or be confused about where to go. That’s why our valuable front office staff is so important.
Using Supplements During Chemo: Yes or No?
Americans spend more than $30 billion a year on vitamins, herbals and other supplements. It is not uncommon for our patients to arrive to their oncology consultations with a large bag (or long list) of the supplements they are taking. It has been estimated that 65%-80% of all cancer patients take one or more vitamin or mineral supplements, and many of these patients START taking supplements just prior to starting their treatment.
Celebrating Twenty Years of Hope and Healing
When The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center opened in 2002, its mission was to create a healing environment for the care of people with cancer, keeping patients and families at the center of every interaction.
We are proud to say that for 20 years we have been fulfilling that goal, providing the most advanced therapies to our patients and continuously seeking out and offering innovations in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, education, and support.
Spotlight on: Radiation Oncology Nurses
We are pleased to welcome Samantha Conway and Erin Gregoire to our Radiation Oncology staff. We asked both nurses some questions to help us get to know them better. We’re sharing it with you, so you can learn more about them too!