ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Mercy Health Systems is now offering qualifying patients genetic testing to identify cancer risks.
Mercy has announced that its Center for Precision Medicine is launching a screening tool to help identify if someone has a high risk of certain cancers. This marks Mercy as one of the first health systems to provide a widespread screening program.
Mercy is working with the testing company Tempus to provide testing for both DNA mutations and hereditary risk factors.
With patient screening and family history considered, if a person is deemed high risk, they are offered a blood draw test covering 77 genes.
Based on results, a doctor may recommend:
Increased cancer screening
Risk reduction measures to help reduce the likelihood of a cancer developing
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