Parkview Health is inviting you to learn more about how your genes impact your health by participating in our new community health research program, DNA Insights. We believe this program may help us better understand and provide more personalized care for those impacted by heart disease or cancer.
The goal of this five-year program is to improve access to personalized healthcare for you and your family and support new research discoveries for healthier communities. By participating, you could also help us better understand how DNA can inform better management of heart disease or cancer.
Your genes (aka DNA) are the special code that makes you who you are. If you choose to participate in DNA Insights, you will be asked to provide a blood sample at one of our Parkview labs and will receive confidential results about your genetic risk for certain cancers and a cause of heart disease that can run in families. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about your regional ancestry and genetic traits (like caffeine sensitivity and sleep patterns).
Participation is completely voluntary, DNA screening is offered at no cost to you, and health insurance is not required.
How can DNA Insights help you?
Knowing about your risk for developing disease can help you to catch problems before they become "too big" to manage effectively. Analyzing your DNA can tell you if you are at increased risk for developing certain diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. If you are at increased risk, our expert team will help make sure that you are connected with the best Parkview providers to deliver the world-class care that you deserve. Our goal is to empower you to take control of your health and have the healthiest future possible.
For example, overall, women have about a 13% risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. However, that number is much higher for women with a DNA mutation in the BRCA1 gene. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) estimates that women with a BRCA1 mutation have a 60-72% risk of developing breast cancer. The BRCA1 mutation can also increase risk for developing other cancers like ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer. These cancers can be very difficult to detect in early stages while disease is still removable or manageable. Some women can carry this mutation but aren't aware that they have it, which is why DNA analysis through programs like DNA Insights are so important.
How can DNA Insights help your family?
These DNA mutations can run in families... which means that if you find out you have an increased risk for disease, there is a chance that your family members might also be at increased risk. This way, your family members can go get tested too to learn if they are at risk for these diseases. By getting tested, you can take control of your own health while potentially helping your loved ones as well!
If you’re interested in learning more or signing up for DNA Insights, visit parkview.com/DNAInsights.
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