Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC)

HBOC is identified through genetic counseling and genetic testing. Genetic counseling is an important first step in which a trained professional reviews the family history, explains what testing can and cannot reveal, and helps a person decide whether testing is right for them. The test itself is usually performed on a sample of blood or saliva. If a mutation is found, the same specific change can then be tested for in relatives — a process called cascade testing — so that family members who carry it can take steps to manage their risk and those who do not can be reassured.

Managing HBOC centers on the surveillance and risk-reduction measures described above rather than on treating an illness, since the syndrome is a predisposition rather than a disease. If a person who carries a gene mutation does develop cancer, that cancer is treated according to its type and stage, and the inherited mutation can influence the choice of therapy.