No, even though a gene mutation may be present, you are not at 100% risk for developing cancer. An individual with a BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 alteration is more likely to develop cancer than an individual without an alteration. However, not every individual who has a BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 alteration will develop cancer, because genes are not the only factor affecting cancer risk.

A positive test indicates that there may be bleeding present in the gastrointestinal tract. Polyps, hemorrhoids, rectal fissures, or even stomach ulcers can cause bleeding that would give a positive result. The positive test result may or may not be related to cancer, so it is important to see a physician as soon as possible to determine what is causing the bleeding. Some studies suggest that only 5-10% of those with a positive test result will be diagnosed as having cancer.

Testing positive for HIV means that you now carry the virus that causes AIDS. It does not mean that you have AIDS, nor does it mean that you will die as a result of the virus. Although there is no cure for AIDS, many opportunistic infections that make people sick can be controlled, prevented or eliminated. This has substantially increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with AIDS.

A positive TB test means that someone has been exposed to the TB germ and follow up evaluation is needed. Once a positive TB test has been confirmed to be truly positive, there is no point in having repeat TB tests in the future. They will not hurt you, or cause disease, but will always continue to be positive. BCG vaccine (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) used in countries where TB is endemic, can decrease the severity of TB in children but will not prevent TB infection.

No. Testing does not tell you whether you will develop cancer. A positive test result tells you that you have an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

A positive antibody test could mean one of two things. It could mean that a person is infected with hepatitis C and is a chronic carrier. Or, it could mean that the person was infected with hepatits C but has cleared it from his or her body. An antibody test cannot tell anyone which of those two categories applies. Once infected, you will always have hepatitis C antibodies, and therefore will always test positive on a hepatitis C screening test.

A false positive hearing screening test result is when a baby does not have a hearing loss but the newborn does not pass the hearing screening. Hearing screening tests are not meant to diagnose hearing loss in infants. Instead, they are meant to find all infants that might have a hearing loss. Because they are not a diagnostic test, hearing screening tests sometimes misidentify infants as having a hearing loss.

Yes, you are. Population risk for developing cancer still exists, even in light of a negative genetic test result. Meeting with a genetic counselor or another medical professional skilled in risk assessment will help you determine your individual risk for developing breast and/or ovarian cancer in your lifetime.

of the world’s population tests positive for the Tuberculosis antibody. This means at some point in their lifetime they have come in contact with Tuberculosis. A positive skin test and a negative chest x-ray means you have Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI). If you have LTBI you are NOT contagious and CANNOT pass TB to others. However, you have a 15% chance of developing active TB during your lifetime. Medications are available to help prevent active TB in persons with LTBI.

No. Testing does not tell you if you currently have cancer. Your test results tell you about your inherited risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

It is important to bear in mind that common diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, occur as a result of the interplay of both environmental (including lifestyle and other health and medical conditions) and inherited risk factors. As a result, having a specific genetic risk factor for a common disease does not mean that one will necessarily develop the disease; and not having a certain risk variant does not eliminate the possibility of developing the disease.

A tissue sample can be obtained by taking blood or by doing a cheek swab. Both ways are reliable. About 15% of those with iron overload do not have mutations of HFE. Genetic testing does not provide information about tissue iron levels.

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal (malignant) cells grow out of proportion and results in a lump or tumor. They may invade the local tissues and spread (metastasize). There is an alteration (mutation) in the genes that control normal cell growth and death (either hereditary or due to environmental/acquired factors). Thus abnormal/cancer cells get out of control of the cell regulatory mechanisms and keep on dividing and do not die, resulting in a tumor.

Some women have a fade-in pattern where the test will get darker for a day or two before the positive result. This generally isn't anything to worry about, and may have the benefit of a bit of advanced noticed. If you find you have a fade-in pattern, you should begin having intercourse when the fade-in pattern starts.

A positive test line means you have Stachybotrys chartarum or Aspergillus niger at the sample location, at levels detectable with this test. Although there are as yet no federal or state limits on mold or mold spores, your risk of exposure to these molds and their potential for producing harmful toxins will be greatly reduced by removing them.

A positive HIV test result means that you are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Being infected with HIV does not mean that you have AIDS right now. However, if left untreated, HIV infection damages a person's immune system and can progress to AIDS.

The first documented cases of AIDS was on the 5th of June 1981, in the USA, and five people were affected with the disease. However there were reported (but not documented) cases of occurrence of HIV in 1959, But not much information was gathered on the later event. REF: FIRST OUTBREAK OF AIDS

Less than 10% of all cancers diagnosed are genetic. Most cancer is not caused by a gene that is inherited.

Family history and genetics are only two of the risk factors associated with breast cancer. Women who carry mutations of certain genes (such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or p53) are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women with no known risk factors. As stated earlier, 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors.

Bowel cancer is also known as colon, rectal or colorectal cancer. The lining of the bowel is made up of cells that are constantly being renewed. Sometimes these cells grow too quickly, forming a clump of cells, known as a bowel polyp. Polyps are not bowel cancers but they can develop into cancer over a number of years. Bowel cancer can develop in any part of the large bowel, including the colon and rectum.

Cancers are rare in small polyps (less than 1 cm. or 1/4 inch). 50% of polyps greater than 2 cm. in size are cancerous. Fortunately, 70% of polyps discovered on a routine colonoscopy are less than 1 cm. in size- It takes about 10 years for a cancer to develop into a benign polyp.

No. There are many benign conditions that will be seen on a breast MRI. The most common are some cysts, fibroadenomas, and papillomas.

Although SMS is caused by a deletion of genetic material, it usually does not run in families. In most cases, the deletion occurs accidentally in a child around the time he or she is conceived, without being inherited from either parent. For this reason, we can say that SMS is clearly genetic, but not usually familial. The risk to siblings depends on the results of parental chromosome analysis. If parental chromosomes are normal, the risks to subsequent pregnancies are extremely low.