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BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing: what it means for you

Waiting on test results can feel like one more hard thing, for you and the people who love you. Here's what the BRCA1 and BRCA2 test looks for and how it can help your care team pick the treatment most likely to work for you.

ℹ️ General information to help you and your loved ones talk with your care team, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.

Matters most in: Breast cancer, Ovarian cancer, Prostate cancer

Why it matters

BRCA changes raise the risk of breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer. If you have cancer, a BRCA change can make the tumor sensitive to PARP inhibitors. An inherited change also matters for your family, who can choose to be tested.

Treatments it can point to

• PARP inhibitors such as Lynparza (olaparib) and Zejula (niraparib) (Lynparza (olaparib), Zejula (niraparib))
• Platinum chemo, which often works well in BRCA-related cancers (Carboplatin)

Only your care team can say which treatment fits you. Drug approvals depend on cancer type, stage and prior treatment.

Tissue vs. blood testing

Blood or saliva for inherited changes; tumor tissue for changes in the cancer only. Genetic counseling before and after testing is recommended.

Most tests use a piece of tumor tissue from a biopsy or surgery. Some can also use a blood sample (a 'liquid biopsy') that looks for tumor DNA floating in the blood. Blood tests are easier and faster, but they can miss a change that a tissue test would find, so a negative blood test is often followed by a tissue test.

❓ Questions you and your loved ones can ask

• Should I see a genetic counselor?
• Should my family members be tested?
• Am I a candidate for a PARP inhibitor?
• When will my results be back, and will treatment wait for them?
• Will my insurance cover this test?

Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write