Common Types of DNA and Genetic Testing for Cancer
Cancer is a common disease that affects the ability to perform day-to-day activities. There are many different types of cancer, and there is no single cure for all of them. However, there are many treatments and tests to help detect if a person has cancer and what type they have. The most prevalent cancer types are prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, melanoma of the skin, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer. To test for these various cancers, DNA testing or genetic testing can help detect and/or diagnose cancer by analyzing a person’s DNA. Here are the most common DNA and genetic tests: 1. Germline Testing Germline genetic tests are genetic tests that look at an individual’s DNA that can be passed on to their offspring. This type of DNA testing is essential in cancer because it allows knowing what other family members may have. This type of test is used in three different types of cancers: colorectal, breast, and ovarian. 2. Somatic mutation testing Somatic mutation testing looks at somatic mutations caused by a particular cancer cell or stem cell that has been passed on from one generation to the next. These mutations occur in the DNA of normal cells that grow and divide.