What brought you to Eiira?
I know that one or two of my relatives had cancers, but I don’t know any details. We’re not that close. However, I wanted to find out my genetic predisposition to cancers as well as other diseases, not only for myself but also for my children.
A few years ago I did a genetic test with 23andme. It was perfect for satisfying my curiosity about my ancestry, but not very suitable for understanding my health as their test only covers about 0.1% of my genome. When I heard about the Eiira Premium offer, it sounded like a great opportunity. The genetic test covers 100% of my genome, and the risk assessment of 10 cancers is a perfect start for me. I plan to keep myself updated to take advantage of future developments and discoveries in science.
What was your experience with Eiira?
“After the initial shock, I feel I have made the right decision!”
The test itself was easy, as only my saliva was needed. I wasn’t really expecting any bad news when I took the test. But after some time, I received a message about setting up a meeting with a genetic counsellor. I felt a bit apprehensive as I was not expecting that.
It turned out that I have a so-called pathogenic gene variant that increases the risk of prostate cancer. I was stunned. But it felt good to have a genetic counselor to guide me through my test results, my risk analysis and my genetic profile. Thanks to the counseling, I understood what my results meant, what to do to manage the risks, and how to communicate the results to my children. It is encouraging to know that the survival rate is over 90% if prostate cancer is detected early. At the end of the process, I felt well informed.
Some people say it's better not to know because you can't do anything with the information. But after the initial shock, I feel that I have made the right decision to find out about my genetic predisposition. Now I know more and am in control of the situation. I can go to the public health system and participate in screening programs to detect cancer early if it happens. Moreover, my children can also make their own informed decisions.
