LOS ANGELES, California, October 12, 2026 — It has led doctors to urge women who underwent genetic testing long ago to consider more current panels, which test for a wider variety of mutations. Testing that used to focus limitedly on two genes has grown tremendously since the 1990s. Physicians say older results may be leaving some women without crucial information about their cancer risk.
The Reason Why Older Tests May Not Cut It
Genetic Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Traditionally focused on only two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 which were discovered over 30 years ago. Since then, dozens more cancer-risk genes have been identified by researchers. National Cancer Institute BRCA summary about how those mutations influence risk and the changing testing recommendations.
Many insurers employ outdated medical guidelines, which were set about 20 years ago and updated less frequently than the latest technology might seem to demand. Two doctors who co-authored an analysis of these guidelines in this week’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association say that current recommendations overlook almost half of patients with breast cancer who could benefit from expanded testing. That matters a lot because test results often dictate what screening or preventive care patients get.
Who Should Consider Retesting
An expert panel that writes national screening guidelines recommended offering testing to more women, including cancer survivors. Updated recommendations from the U.S. In particular, the new guidance focuses on survivors diagnosed and treated for BRCA-related cancers before tests were widely available in the mid-1990s.
More modern multi-gene panels can identify risk factors that more limited, older tests would have missed altogether. In the oncology literature, a study posits women are comparable in managing more detailed results as well as they have fared with older, simpler test outcomes. Clinical research reviews published by the National Institutes of Health examine patient comprehension and psychological outcomes following expanded genetic panel testing. The results have allayed some physician fears that wider screening would create needless worry.
What Patients Should Know
Doctors say re-testing isn’t required for all women, with eligibility still dependent on personal and family cancer history. For many, those with a near relative diagnosed with breast, ovarian or related cancers are likely most eligible to benefit from an assessment. Ancestry may also play a role in risk because some mutations are more common in certain populations.
The authors suggest that patients who are thinking of retesting first consult their primary care provider or a genetic counselor. The CDC’s genomics resources provide background on inherited cancer susceptibility and approaches to assess family history. Because insurance coverage for broader testing can differ, it may be worthwhile to verify your insurance before scheduling an appointment.
A Shift in Standard Practice
Specialists say the move to more extensive testing demonstrates how rapidly hereditary science has advanced since the first BRCA revelations. Current thinking holds that patients with negative results on an earlier, narrower panel are not necessarily risk-free. That nuance has become an important talking point in doctor-patient dialogues regarding personal and family histories of cancer.
The testing technology continues to get better and doctors expect the guidelines will also evolve with it. As for now, the most definitive message from specialists is that older results should be taken with a measure of caution. Professional oncology education guidelines published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology emphasize regular clinical updates for patients with hereditary cancer predispositions. Following up with a qualified provider is still the best way to see if testing after update sounds right!
Because more extensive testing can lead to various uncertain results, genetic counselors caution that special expertise is needed to interpret expanded panel results. Because algorithms flagging the same mutation can differ among different laboratories, where one might classify a particular variant as benign, another might warn that it reflects an important risk to health, which complicates decisionmaking regarding preventive care. Laboratory quality standards maintained by the College of American Pathologists ensure consistent variant interpretation and testing accuracy across clinical genetics facilities. Patients are advised to get tested only through accredited labs with proven experiences in hereditary cancer testing.
But advocacy groups have also pressured insurers to update reimbursement policies in accordance with current medical understanding instead of decades-old guidelines. Even with newer recommendations, coverage gaps are still a deterrent for some women who would otherwise be eligible for expanded testing. Healthcare advocacy reports published by the American Cancer Society analyze insurance coverage barriers for comprehensive genetic screening tests. Bridging that gap, specialists say, will be critical to allowing updated science to get out to the patients who might need it.
