Hereditary cancer genetic testing: what to know
How inherited (germline) cancer genetic testing differs from tumour testing, what results can mean and why genetic counselling matters.
Clinical review: pending · General information, not medical advice
Germline and somatic: two different questions
Tumour (somatic) testing describes changes in the tumour. Hereditary (germline) testing looks for inherited variants that are present in cells throughout the body and may be passed to relatives. The two answer different questions and may use different samples.
When might it be considered?
Doctors consider factors such as the type of cancer, the age at diagnosis and the pattern of cancer in a family. Whether testing is appropriate is a clinical decision, often made together with a genetics professional.
What can the result be?
A result may show a variant classified as pathogenic, a variant of uncertain significance, or no variant found. A negative result does not rule out every inherited risk, and an uncertain result should not be used to make medical decisions on its own.
Why counselling matters
Inherited results can have implications for relatives. Genetic counselling helps people understand what a result does and does not mean before and after testing, and how to approach sharing it with family.
Privacy
Genetic information is personal. We ask only for what is needed to respond to a request, and we will explain who sees information before any testing proceeds.
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