What If I’m Afraid of Knowing My Results?

If you have been thinking about hereditary cancer genetic testing but keep putting it off because of a knot in your stomach, this article is for you. The reason, if you are honest with yourself, is not logistics or cost. It is fear. That fear is one of the most common and most human responses to the possibility of genetic testing.

What You Are Actually Afraid Of

• Fear of a cancer sentence. The worry that a positive result means you will get cancer — that finding out is the same as being diagnosed.
• Fear of losing control. The sense that right now, in this moment of not knowing, the possibilities are still open.
• Fear of burdening your family. The concern that a positive result will create anxiety or guilt.
• Fear of discrimination. The worry that genetic information could be used against you by employers or insurers.
• Fear of medical intervention. The prospect of more screening, more decisions, or the possibility of surgery.

A Positive Result Is Not a Diagnosis

This is the most important thing to understand. A positive genetic test result means you carry a variant that increases your risk. It does not mean you have cancer. It does not mean you will get cancer. What a positive result does give you is the ability to act. For more on interpreting results, see our guide to understanding your genetic test results.

What Happens If You Do Not Know

If you carry a hereditary cancer gene variant and do not know about it, the variant does not disappear. The risk it confers is present whether or not you look. Without knowing, you receive standard screening — which is calibrated for average-risk individuals. If your actual risk is significantly higher, standard screening may not be sufficient to catch cancer early.

You Will Not Be Alone with the Results

With clinical-grade testing, your results are reviewed with a licensed genetic counselor. You do not open an envelope alone. Your counselor will explain exactly what your results mean in the context of your personal and family history. The conversation is private, unhurried, and focused entirely on you. Learn about the step-by-step testing process.

Your Privacy Is Protected by Law

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) prohibits health insurers from using genetic information to deny coverage or set premiums, and prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from using genetic information in hiring, firing, or promotion decisions. GINA does have limitations — it does not cover life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance — but it provides substantial protection.

You Control the Timeline

Getting your results does not start a clock. You do not need to make a single decision on the day you receive them. The power of knowing is that it gives you options. What you do with those options, and when, is entirely up to you.

What People Say After Testing

Research consistently shows that the majority of individuals who undergo genetic testing — including those who receive positive results — report that they are glad they were tested. The anxiety of wondering is often more distressing than the clarity of an answer, even a difficult one. If you receive a result that is uncertain, learn about what a variant of uncertain significance means.