Twenty years ago, if you were diagnosed with cancer, your physician was your primary source for medical information. With the advent of the internet, that is no longer the case. Many patients turn to the internet to research and become informed about their cancer. Personally, I think knowledge is a good thing. Ten years ago, all medical tests were ordered by your physician. Today you can order an at-home genetic medical test over the internet. In the privacy of your home, by swabbing the inside of your cheek and sending the sample back to the company who sold you the kit, you can find out if you have inherited genes that mean you are at greater risk for developing certain cancers known to have a genetic link. Knowledge is one thing, self administered tests without the educational background or training to know how to interpret them is not what I would normally deem a good thing.
The Washington Post has published a feature Too Much Information, where Sandra G. Boodman weighs the pros and cons in this kind of at-home test. On the surface, it might seem like a good idea. On further examination, the at-home test has the potential to do more damage than any possible good. Are some things better left to the professionals? Go here to read Results of Home DNA Tests Can Shock, Misinform Some Users, before you make up your mind.
