BRACAnalysis Treatment Questions and Answers

Women’s Healthcare of Illinois is proud to provide BRACAnalysis treatment for determining breast and ovarian cancer risk to patients from Evergreen Park IL and Mokena IL. For an appointment, please feel free to call us or schedule one through our website.

While there is no current cure for cancer, there are innovative and advanced ways of determining one’s risk of developing cancer in order to reduce that risk and prevent cancer from developing. One of these methods is the BRACAnalysis test, which examines an individual’s genetic code to determine if they carry a hereditary risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. At Women’s Healthcare of Illinois, we are proud to provide BRACAnalysis treatment to any individual who is curious about knowing their relative risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer and wants to reduce the chances of that occurring.

What is BRACAnalysis?

BRACAnalysis is a genetic test that screens for particular mutations in an individual’s genetic code that are responsible for the majority of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. These gene mutations are scientifically known as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Individuals who carry these gene mutations have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, and to a lesser extent, ovarian cancer, by the time they reach 70 years of age.

With that in mind, the BRACAnalysis test can enable doctors to reduce cancer risk in patients with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations and either delay the onset, detect it at an earlier, more treatable stage, or even prevent it altogether. If a patient is found to have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, treatment and management options could include any of the following:

• Increased monitoring for the signs of breast cancer and ovarian cancer
• Lifestyle changes and medications to reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer
• Prophylactic surgery if cancer is detected

How does BRACAnalysis treatment work?

The BRACAnalysis test can be conducted by taking a routine blood test or an oral rinse sample, which is then analyzed at a medical laboratory to detect if the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are present. The BRACAnalysis test results should return to you and your obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) within two weeks.

If the results show that you do have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, your OBGYN will work with you to develop a treatment plan to help reduce the risk of cancer develop, delay its onset, or prevent it altogether. This treatment plan could include any of the following:

• Monthly self-breast exams and annual clinical breast exams, mammograms, and ovarian cancer screenings
• Chemoprevention medications, such as tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors
• Preventive surgery, such as a mastectomy to remove the breasts or an oophorectomy to remove the ovaries

Your OBGYN may also discuss the possibility of having other members of your family undergo the BRAC analysis test to determine if they also carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.

Where can I find BRACAnalysis in Illinois?

If you are looking for a women’s healthcare clinic in Illinois that provides BRACAnalysis genetic testing, we would love to have you visit us at Women’s Healthcare of Illinois! We have two locations to serve you, which you can find at 9730 S. Western Ave. Suite 700, in Evergreen Park, IL, or at 10260 W. 191st St., Suite 100, in Mokena, IL.

Our Evergreen Park location is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM, on Friday from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM, and on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You can reach us here by calling us.

Our Mokena location is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Wednesday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You can reach us here by calling us.

Our clinics are staffed with male and female board-certified OBGYNs, osteopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, and midwife nurses. Every member of our team is committed to providing compassionate and high-quality service to every patient that walks through our doors. We serve patients from Evergreen Park IL, Mokena IL, Oak Lawn IL, Chicago Ridge IL, Hickory Hills IL, Bridgeview IL, and Bedford Park IL.