Courtney had a gut feeling something was wrong. Her December 2022 appointment with her gynecologist confirmed her suspicion – she had breast cancer.

Because she was only 35, her physician recommended she undergo genetic testing. The testing identified a CHEK2 gene mutation that explained her young diagnosis of breast cancer and allowed both male and female relatives to be tested to see if they were also at higher risk of developing cancer due to the inherited gene mutation. While her sister tested negative for the gene mutation, her mother tested positive and was later diagnosed with breast cancer as well.

While cancer treatment is a journey no family expects to experience together, Courtney and her mother say they are blessed to be able to lean on each other. They are thankful for the genetics program that uncovered her mother’s breast cancer risk and resulted in an earlier diagnosis than would have been found without this knowledge. The family is also grateful for Piedmont’s personalized care close to home. They are happy to share their story and encourage others to participate in genetic testing under similar circumstances.

Genetic testing for inherited cancer risk is usually considered for individuals with a personal or family history of any of the following:

• Multiple close family members with cancer, especially the same type of cancer
• Cancer at a young age, considered 50 and younger
• Cancers that have a stronger genetic risk, such as ovarian cancer, pancreas cancer or male breast cancer
• Multiple separate cancers in one individual
• A known genetic mutation in one or more family members who had genetic testing
• Member of an ethnic group at higher risk for inherited gene mutations, such as Ashkenazi Jewish

The Piedmont Cancer Genetics Program offers genetic counseling, risk assessment and genetic testing related to inherited cancer risk for individuals and families. For more information, contact the Piedmont Cancer Genetics Program, or ask your healthcare provider for a referral.