Some of you have been interested in the recent discussion of pharmacogenetic testing and have asked if it's available. Yes, it's available, but many psychiatrists aren't yet comfortable with interpreting the results.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) Go to the nearest hospital or emergency roomCall your physician, health provider or clergyNational Alliance on Mental Illness
www.nami.org
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

The Mayo Medical Laboratory began testing in 2003 to determine whether people could tolerate certain antidepressants. In a relatively short time, other large medical laboratories also began offering these tests.

Two things have happened to improve access to testing:

First, a company called AssureRx Health was created to provide the results of these tests to psychiatrists using a more "physician friendly" report. A psychiatrist can now collect just a simple cheek swab sample of DNA, send it overnight to AssureRx and receive the results electronically within 36 to 48 hours.Second, more than 2,000 psychiatrists have taken a Mayo Clinic course designed to help them use this testing more efficiently.

By incorporating new research results from ongoing scientific studies, the testing is getting increasingly more accurate. While the results still can't provide a certain prediction of which antidepressant will be most effective, the tests do increase the chances of identifying an effective medication and can definitely identify medications that you're unlikely to be able to tolerate.

blog index

In recent years, genetic testing to predict your cancer risk has become more available. As researchers learn more about how genes can predict your cancer risk, it's important to consider all the options.

If you're in a high-risk family, you may be considering genetic testing. The most common cancers that have a genetic component include breast, ovarian, prostate and colon cancers (along with many others as well).

Before you undergo genetic testing, gather as much information as you can about your family and medical history. Talk with your doctor or a genetic counselor about your personal and family medical history. This will help you better understand your risk. Discuss any questions or concerns you have about genetic testing. Also, talk about what your options will be, depending on the results of the test.

If a positive genetic test is discovered, you'll be able to talk with an expert about your specific risk. Some of the benefits of genetic testing include early interventions to decrease risk of actually developing cancer, such as:

More frequent screening tests (detecting cancer earlier with increased survival rate — colon cancer is a good example)Prevention strategies including positive lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise)Informed decisions can be made for pro-active interventions (for example a decision to have prophylactic mastectomy or removal of ovaries for women with high risk to develop breast or ovarian cancer)

The field of studying genes for predicting cancer is evolving constantly. We are only at the beginning stages of understanding how genes predict our cancer risk and many other aspects of health.

Please share your thoughts on this topic and your personal experiences. blog index