Women's Medical Specialty is offering BRACAnalysis testing in its office, which is a safe and simple blood test to screen for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Taking a closer look at your family history is the first step toward finding out whether you may be at risk. Choosing to know more is a decision you can make with the help of your health care provider.

BRACAnalysis is specifically for individuals thought to be at high risk of breast or ovarian cancer due to family history, or because they developed breast cancer before the age of 50 or ovarian cancer at any age. BRACAnalysis is a blood test that detects mutations in the genetic code of BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Some important facts to consider - Approximately 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish individuals carries one of three BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, while approximately 1 in 500 members of the general population carry any BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Half of all women with a hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer inherited the risk from their fathers, not their mothers.

Knowing your risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer and doing everything you can to lower it, could make a big difference for you, for your family, and your future healthcare choices.

BRACAnalysis can help you find out your risk so you can fight hereditary breast and ovarian cancer before it develops.

The board-certified providers of Women's Medical Specialty include Larry J. Kaufman, MD FACOG, Susan Gominger, MSN ANP BC and Donna Sillman MSN ANP BC. Together they offer more than fifty years of combined medical expertise and have been privileged to service the health care needs of women of South Jersey as they journey through their many life-stages from adolescence to having babies to menopause and into the senior years. For more information about the practice and to schedule an appointment, please contact us at 485-0885, and a member of our staff will be glad to assist you.