GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - There is no test for ovarian cancer, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to be proactive about the disease.
The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance is looking for women with a family history to be part of a new study.
MAGENTA is free and is the only home-based test that offers testing for all currently known genes related to increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer. This is different from other home-based tests, like 23andMe, which only test for a few genes.
Women can go to magenta.mdanderson.org to find out if they qualify for the study and to enroll. The study is funded by the Stand Up 2 Cancer Ovarian Cancer Dream Team, which the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance has helped fund and provides staff support.
The study is available to women age 30 or older, who can read and speak English and have a valid U.S. mailing address. Qualifying women will have a personal or family history of breast cancer OR a family history of ovarian cancer (no personal history of ovarian cancer allowed). Qualifying women must have at least one ovary and have never had genetic testing or counseling in the past. All women involved in the study must be willing to undergo genetic testing – at no cost – and share their results with their healthcare provider. All women must be willing to complete a series of questionnaires for up to two years.
The impact of genetic testing can be life-saving. If a woman finds out she carries a gene mutation that increases the risk of breast or ovarian cancer, she can choose to take part in risk-reducing options that lower her risk of breast or ovarian cancer (for example – a mastectomy or oophorectomy, removing ovaries).
This is especially vital for ovarian cancer, as there is no test for the disease. For more information, click here.