How these tests can help create a treatment plan that’s right for you
Navigating Your Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer can feel overwhelming. You’re asked to make important decisions—often quickly—while trying to absorb unfamiliar terms and complex medical information. Among the terms you may hear are genetic testing and genomic testing. Though they sound alike, they serve very different purposes, and both can play meaningful roles in helping guide your care.
Understanding the difference between the two can empower you to ask the right questions and feel more confident about the path ahead.
What Is Genetic Testing?
Genetic testing looks at the DNA you were born with—the kind you inherit from your parents. It helps answer questions like:
- Do I carry a gene mutation (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2) that increases my risk for breast cancer?
- Could this mutation raise my chances of developing other cancers, like ovarian or pancreatic, including others?
- Should my family members consider testing as well?
This type of testing is about identifying inherited risk—which can influence decisions about prevention, screening, or surgery not just for you, but possibly for your loved ones too.
You may be a candidate for genetic testing if you have:
- A strong family history of breast, ovarian, or related cancers
- A personal history of breast cancer at a young age
- Certain subtypes of breast cancer, such as triple-negative
Think of genetic testing as checking your “family history written in your genes.”
What Is Genomic Testing?
While genetic testing looks at your inherited DNA, genomic testing looks at the genes in the actual breast cancer tumor, not the DNA you were born with. It helps your care team understand how your specific cancer is behaving—how aggressive it is, how likely it is to return, and whether treatments like chemotherapy are likely to help.
This is where tests like MammaPrint and BluePrint come in.
You might benefit from genomic testing if you have been newly diagnosed with early-stage invasive breast cancer (Stage I or II), especially if:
-
- You are pre-, peri-, or postmenopausal
- Your tumor is hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative
- You have lymph node-negative or lymph node-positive disease
Think of genomic testing as analyzing the cancer’s “behavior or personality.”
Why Does This Matter?
Because not all breast cancers are the same, even when they appear similar under a microscope. Genomic testing gives your doctors more than just a diagnosis—it offers insight into the unique tumor biology, which means your treatment plan can be personalized.
This can help:
- Avoid unnecessary treatments like chemotherapy when it’s not likely to help
- Escalation of therapy more effectively when it’s needed
- Support the best possible long-term outcome with fewer side effects
Final Thoughts: What’s the Difference—and Why It Matters
Both genetic and genomic testing can be valuable, but they answer different questions:
| Genetic Testing | Genomic Testing | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Identifies inherited cancer risk | Analyzes tumor biology and behavior |
| When It’s Done | Before or after diagnosis | After diagnosis, before making treatment decisions |
| What It Helps With | Prevention, screening, family risk guidance | Treatment planning (e.g., need for chemotherapy, subtype info) |
| Who It Helps | You and potentially your family | You and your care team |
Understanding these differences can help you play an active role in your care. When testing is used appropriately, it ensures that your treatment plan is based on your unique biology.
Talk to your doctor about whether these tests are right for you. When decisions are based on your individual biology, you get treatment that’s smarter—not just stronger.
