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DeCode Breast Cancer: Understanding What This New Test Can—and Can’t—Do
The company deCode Genetics recently announced that it would begin selling a new genetic test that, it says, can assess a woman’s lifetime risk of developing the most common types of breast cancer.

Currently, genetic testing is primarily used in women with an extensive family history of breast and ovarian cancer to see if they carry one of the breast cancer genetic mutations, called BRCA1 and BRCA2. These mutations account for about 5 percent of all breast cancer cases. But women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation have up to an 85% chance of developing breast cancer. In contrast, the average lifetime risk for a woman of European descent is about a 12%.

The new DNA test, called deCode Breast Cancer, is performed on a blood sample or a cheek swab. It must be ordered by a physician for their patient. (A woman can’t order it directly from the company herself.) The result is given as a numerical “score” that represents your personal lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
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“Chemo brain” or “chemo fog” are terms used for thinking and memory difficulty that some associate with chemotherapy treatment. While some research suggests a link between chemotherapy and problems with thinking and memory, findings are not yet consistent and more studies need to be done. What we do know is that for many breast cancer patients, “chemo brain” is a very real issue. You may not remember where you put your keys or why you went to the store, or you may simply not be able to think of the right word.
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