Cancer
A group of more than 100 different diseases that can begin almost anywhere in the body, characterized by abnormal cell growth and the ability to invade nearby tissues.
Ovarian Cancer
Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer and can spread.
Ovarian cancers were previously believed to begin only in the ovaries, but recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far (distal) end of the fallopian tubes.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes (mutations) in chromosomes, genes, or proteins.
HIPAA
A 1996 U.S. law that allows workers and their families to keep their health insurance when they change or lose their jobs. The privacy rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects the privacy of a person’s health information and keeps it from being misused. It gives people the right to receive and review their health records and to choose with whom their healthcare providers and health insurance companies share their information (including friends, family members, and caregivers). The law also includes standards for setting up and maintaining secure electronic health records. Also called HIPAA and Kassebaum Kennedy Act.
Medicaid
This is a type of government health insurance for people with low incomes who meet certain conditions. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state government, but each state operates its program individually.
Medicare
This is a type of insurance provided by the federal government for people who are 65 or older, as well as for some people with disabilities. Medicare is divided into four parts: Part A, B, C, and D. Part A covers in-patient hospital care. Part B provides financial coverage using premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance structures for other medical expenses, such as doctor visits. Medicare Advantage plans, or Part C, are insurance plans managed by private, approved companies. Part D provides prescription drug coverage.
Germline Genetic Testing
Germline testing is done on non-cancer cells. The test can tell whether or not a person is born with gene mutations (also known as germline mutations) that are known to increase the risk of developing cancers and other health problems. Germline mutations can sometimes be inherited from parents and may be passed down to children.
Somatic Genetic Testing
Somatic testing is done on cancer cells (tumor testing). Somatic testing is usually done after a person has been diagnosed with cancer and looks for genetic mutations in tumor or cancer cells. Somatic mutations are not passed down from a parent but acquired during one’s life. They can help doctors learn more about the diagnosis and the prognosis of cancer, and find out if treatments are available for cancer with that specific mutation.
Additional Readings:
- Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer, American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html
- What Is Ovarian Cancer, American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about/what-is-ovarian-cancer.html
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