I have ovarian cancer, but no history of breast / ovarian cancer or BRCA mutation in my family. Do I need to get tested?

Hi Anon and welcome to EmpowHER!

Since most breast and ovarian cancers are sporadic, meaning the cancer occurs by chance with no known cause, genetic testing is recommended primarily for people who have a personal and/or family history that suggests a hereditary risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer. 

According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, a recent study of 1,001 women with ovarian cancer found that 14% of them carried a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. However, 44% of those women did not have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

The decision on whether or not to be tested is a personal one. It is also often a financial one as many insurance plans will not cover the test. Many people who are diagnosed with one cancer also focus on taking as many preventive measures as possible to look out for their overall health and for peace of mind.

Hope this helps, let us know what you decide to do.

Best,

Pat