A new initiative aims to offer no-cost genetic screening to 100,000 Louisiana adults, with enrollment beginning next year. LCMC Health and Helix researchers will test for genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, Lynch Syndrome and familial hypercholesterolemia. LCMC Health System Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Heaton says having the gene does not mean you have the disease, but it drastically changes your next steps.
“It does alter the screening and the treatment and the drugs that are used to treat a lot of these diseases,” Heaton explained.
Genetic screening that exposes predisposed risk can inform earlier testing dates, like those for breast or colon cancer, than ones based simply on age.
Heaton researchers can also look back on the genetic data if you have a new medical problem arise or get on new medication.
“See if there’s a genetic interaction with the medicine, for instance, or some other gene that will have an impact on your treatment plan,” Heaton noted.
Heaton says that not only does Louisiana rank among the highest in the nation in cancer rates, it also has some of the most cancer deaths. Diseases like breast cancer are often caught later than they could be, and testing like this could help Louisiana change that.
“It’s a start, to identify more people that are going to be at risk and make sure that their surveillance is appropriate for their enhanced risk,” Heaton said.
Governor Jeff Landry says this initiative represents the kind of innovation that can change the trajectory of health in Louisiana for generations to come.
Testing will be available in early 2027 to adults 18 and older and is done through blood or saliva DNA samples.
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