Think You’re Not at Risk for Cancer? Think Again—And Here’s Why

One of the most common things we hear when talking about cancer risk is:

“I’m not worried—I don’t have any family history of cancer.”

We get it. Family history is important, but it’s only one part of the story. The truth is, about 80% of people diagnosed with cancer have no family history at all. That means most people who hear the words “you have cancer” never expected it.

Cancer—like breast cancer—is what doctors call a multifactorial disease. That’s a big word that simply means there are lots of factors that can influence your risk, not just one.

Why should you know your personal risk?

Because knowledge is power. Understanding your risk can open the door to options like:

• Starting screening earlier than average

• Getting screened more often

• Qualifying for additional screening methods

• Accessing risk-reducing medications

• Feeling motivated to make lifestyle changes that last

Enter geneType

This innovative test helps you understand your risk more clearly. While their flagship test focuses on breast cancer, they also offer assessments for prostate, ovarian, colorectal, pancreatic, and melanoma cancers—all available through a doctor. To make things easier, geneType partners with a telehealth provider to support access to risk assessments.

Here’s how it works: geneType looks at your DNA, personal health, and lifestyle to create a personalized risk score you can share with your doctor and use to plan next steps.

Unlike traditional genetic testing (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2), which looks for rare mutations found in less than 1% of adults, geneType uses something called polygenic risk. That means they look at hundreds of common variants (which we all have) and combine that with health information to predict your chances of getting cancer.

Knowledge = empowerment

At its heart, understanding your risk is about being empowered. It gives you the knowledge to advocate for yourself, make informed decisions, and take charge of your health.

That’s why we’re proud to partner with geneType. Together, we’re combining their personalized risk testing with our mission to help people understand the symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of early screening. With the right tools and the right information, you can feel confident about your breast health—and your future.

Because the more you know, the more power you have.