Have you ever watched a futurist film and they treat a medical ailment with a wave of a wand or someone would step into chamber of sorts and they would be instantly cured? Did you ever think to you yourself “I wish diseases like cancer could be treated that easily”? We are not that medically advanced yet but we do have access to advanced tests that can detect cancer. Summerlin Center for Wellness is an advanced medical center and is proud to offer hereditary cancer screenings. Hereditary cancer screening is a non-invasive cancer risk predisposition testing system that analysis 31 genes linked to 8 of the most prevalent and serious solid tumor cancers. The types of cancer that can be detected with hereditary cancer screening are:
- Ovarian
- Breast
- Gastric
- Endometrial
- Colorectal
- Pancreatic
- Melanoma
- Prostate
Why is heredity cancer screening so effective? According to www.cancer.gov Cancer is a genetic disease—that is, cancer is caused by certain changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. These changes include mutations in the DNA that makes up our genes. Genetic changes that increase cancer risk can be inherited from our parents if the changes are present in germ cells, which are the reproductive cells of the body (eggs and sperm). Such changes, called germ-line changes, are found in every cell of the offspring. Cancer-causing genetic changes can also be acquired during one’s lifetime, as the result of errors that occur as cells divide during a person’s lifetime or exposure to substances, such as certain chemicals in tobacco smoke, and radiation, such as ultraviolet rays from the sun, that damage DNA. Genetic changes that occur after conception are called somatic (or acquired) changes. They can arise at any time during a person’s life. The number of cells in the body that carry such changes depends on when the changes occur during a person’s lifetime.
In general, cancer cells have more genetic changes than normal cells. But each person’s cancer has a unique combination of genetic alterations. Some of these changes may be the result of cancer, rather than the cause. As the cancer continues to grow, additional changes will occur. Even within the same tumor, cancer cells may have different genetic changes.
- Who is a candidate for hereditary cancer screening? If you have a family member that has had one or more of the 8 types of solid tumor cancers listed above, then hereditary
cancer screening is a fit for you. Unaware of any family members that have been diagnosed with any of these types of cancer, hereditary cancer screening can still benefit you and your family. Many people are not in contact with all of their extended family making it sometimes impossible to know if you are at a higher risk of having cancer later on in life. This is why hereditary cancer screening is so important. - Why is hereditary cancer screening important? Patients that test positive for certain mutations have a significantly higher risk of cancer than the general population. Knowledge is power and catching cancer early can greatly increase your survival rate. If your test is positive, it allows you and your physician to put a preventative plan in place to reduce your risk of getting cancer.
- How is hereditary cancer screening performed? Dr. Scott MacLeod will discuss the best screening plan for you. The test can be performed via simple mouth rinse, saliva or blood collection. All three-collection methods are safe, fast and effective.
At Summerlin Center for Wellness we believe in preventative healthcare not reactive healthcare. Our philosophy is based on not treated the symptoms but treating the person before the symptoms appear. Call us today to book your consultation.
