HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Diagnosed with Advanced Ovarian Cancer? Learn Why HRD Testing May Help Guide Your Care.
Article from BPT Website
Your Heart Health
(BPT) - A diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer can feel overwhelming, emotionally, physically and mentally. There are many decisions to make, and one empowering way to take control is to understand as much as possible about your specific tumor. For people diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, this means knowing your tumor's HRD status, which can help your health care team treat your specific type of cancer.1 The more information your doctors have, the better equipped they are to recommend a treatment plan that fits you.
Understanding HRD
HRD stands for homologous recombination deficiency, a term that refers to a tumor's inability to repair certain types of DNA damage, which impacts how cancer cells grow, die and respond to different treatments.2 About 50% of people with advanced ovarian cancer have tumors that are HRD-positive, which is why testing can be so important.2
To find out your HRD status, doctors may recommend a tumor test, also known as a genomic or biomarker test.3 This type of test looks at the DNA in your tumor to detect both inherited and acquired mutations.3 It can identify changes that may influence how your cancer grows or responds to treatment.1
This is different from genetic testing, which looks at inherited genes in your DNA (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2). Genetic tests can help identify the potential for developing certain diseases, including some cancers.3
The Importance of HRD Testing
When doctors understand more about a tumor's biology, including biomarkers like HRD, they can tailor treatments more precisely. This approach, called precision or personalized medicine, helps match you with therapies that are most likely to be effective for your specific type of cancer and avoid those that are less likely to help.3
Treatment options for advanced ovarian cancer can depend upon the