There are plenty of resources that show the advancements of at-home cancer tests. Cancer can be a difficult thing to talk about, so getting any type of result is a quick way to stress. That is why an at-home test is the best way to prepare for a possible clash with health complications. 

Do They Work?

The entire reason at-home tests work is due to the advancements in Gene Expression. This creates a profile that helps to diagnose a condition or disease. With cancer, accuracy is vital in making sure that there are no false positives. Gene expression has many other uses, including helping with determining the progress of treatment, or predicting when cancer will come back. The techniques for at-home tests are constantly being improved, and is far more user friendly than past tests. 

For breast cancer in particular, knowing where you rank on the risk factor can avoid a lot of future health issues. At the very least, being prepared will put you in a better position. 

What Can a Test Tell You?

Cancer risks are different for every individual. No two people will have the same diagnosis or preferred treatment plan. Although accuracy is the highest it has ever been, users should still take note of how the tests work. Some at-home tests report on only 3 gene variants associated with ovarian, breast or prostate cancer. When the test gives you a negative result, that does not mean that the test taker is completely risk free from cancer. Think of the at-home test as a pretest to actual cancer screening rather than a complete replacement. 

Are There Any Risks?

Any at-home test has to have FDA approval before being used by the general population. Unrealistic expectations are the only risk factor associated with an at-home test. This test should never be used as a replacement for a visit to a doctor or specialist. When cancer is involved, any delay could cause the problem to become bigger. 

Submitting samples for an analysis has also raised privacy concerns from the general population. The truth is that those concerns are unwarranted since at-home cancer tests are subject to HIPPA rules. No leakage of information will occur, as users are guaranteed the same protection as an in-office visit. 

After The Expiration Date

There is an expiration date on at-home cancer tests that should always be respected. The accuracy of these tests will take a severe drop when they expire. Pay close attention to these dates so that you’re never caught off-guard. Every two years is the best time to take an at-home test, and will also line up with the expected expiration date. For extra questions about how the expiration affects test accuracy, read the instructions that come with the kit.  

Information for Life

Too many people bury their heads in the sand when it comes to cancer and its risks. The longer you take to resolve the problem, the worse it will get. Use an at-home test ASAP to fully take control of your future.