Risks

There's no medical risk associated with being tested for a BRCA gene mutation other than the slight risks — including lightheadedness, bleeding or bruising — of having your blood drawn. Other consequences surrounding genetic testing include the emotional, financial, medical and social implications of your test results.

If you test positive for an inherited genetic mutation, you may face:

• Feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness or depression
• Concerns over possible insurance discrimination
• Strained family relationships over learning of a familial genetic mutation
• Difficult decisions about preventive measures that have long-term consequences
• Feelings of inevitability that you'll get cancer

On the other hand, if you test negative for a BRCA mutation or your results aren't clear-cut — for example, you have a genetic variation, but one that hasn't been associated with cancer in other people — you may experience:

• "Survivor guilt" if your family has a known gene mutation that may affect your loved ones (if you receive a negative result)
• Uncertainty and concern that your result may not be a true negative result (if your results show you have a gene variant of uncertain significance)

Your genetic counselor can help you work through your feelings and provide you and your family support throughout this process.