17 Mar To Your Health: Genetic Testing, Pt.2!
Welcome back to the series which offers a deep dive into the world of health, wellness, and disease prevention with Telluride local Dr. Alan Safdi.
Dr. Alan is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology, and a respected leader in healthcare. His blogs have featured and will continue to showcase the most current information in his fields: health, wellness and longevity.
In this installment of “To Your Heath, Dr. Alan dives into a topic that sounds complex but is actually very personal — DNA, genetics, and what they mean for cancer risk.
Scroll down to read the salient details and listen to the podcast to find out more.
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Welcome to part two of our discussion into genetic testing. In part one, we talked about how common these genetic risks are. Now the real question is this: What do you actually do about them?
Genetic testing today is surprisingly simple. What’s involved is generally just a blood or saliva test that looks at key cancer-related genes, including those linked to breast, ovarian, colon, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Genes like BRCA and those involved in Lynch syndrome are some of the most important because they affect how your body repairs DNA.
The cost of this testing has dropped significantly. Many are now just a few hundred dollars, which insurance tends to cover if there is a personal or family history. Even without that bonus, testing is becoming much more accessible.
Here is the key point: a positive test does not mean you have cancer. It means you have an opportunity.
An opportunity to start screening earlier, use more sensitive tools like MRI instead of standard imaging, or increase the frequency of tests like colonoscopies. In some cases, screening can even guide preventive strategies.
And just as important, your lifestyle still matters. Even with a genetic risk, factors like diet, exercise, sleep, and inflammation can influence how that risk actually plays out.
That is where medicine is changing. Rather than reacting to disease, we can now get ahead of upcoming challenges.
Check out our deep dive into who should be tested, which tests matter, and exactly what to do with the results. For all that information, be sure to listen to the full podcast.
Alan Safdi, more:
Dr. Alan Safdi is board-certified in Internal Medicine and in Gastroenterology and a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology. A proven leader in the healthcare arena, he has been featured on the national program, “Medical Crossfire” and authored or co-authored numerous medical articles and abstracts.
Safdi, a long-time Telluride local, has been involved in grant-based and clinical research for four decades. He is passionate about disease prevention and wellness, not just fixing what has gone wrong.
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