Can a tumor test reveal an inherited gene change?
Yes. A tumor test, also called a biomarker test, looks mainly for gene changes that arose in the cancer during a person's life. But it can sometimes find a change the person was born with.
The National Cancer Institute says a second test is usually advised when this happens. It is called a germline test, and it checks whether the change is truly inherited. This matters for two reasons: an inherited change affects the person's risk of other cancers later on, and it can also carry news for their blood relatives.
Say a test finds an inherited change that raises cancer risk. A health care provider may then suggest talking with a genetic counselor or another genetics expert, who can help make sense of what the result means for the person and the family. So the two kinds of test can work together, even though they start with different goals.
Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: Tumor DNA Testing vs. Inherited (Germline) Testing
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