Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk: Who, How, and Next Steps

Am I a candidate for genetic testing, and what happens before and after the results? Genetic testing workflow and follow‑up — Umangi Patel, MD, Medical Director, Oncology Services at Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall, walks through the full process: identifying red flags from personal and family history, referral to genetic counseling, insurance authorization, and sample collection by blood or saliva. She explains multi‑gene panels versus single‑gene tests, how labs such as Myriad and Invitae report results, and how clinicians communicate positive, negative, or variant of unknown significance findings. The episode details downstream steps tied to different results — specialist referrals (GYN oncologist, breast surgeon, gastroenterologist, urologist), surveillance options (mammogram, MRI, colonoscopy, transvaginal ultrasound, PSA), chemoprevention, and timing of risk‑reducing surgery — and emphasizes that genetics is evolving, so variants and recommendations may change over time.