Genetic cancer screening is rapidly evolving, and these advances are starting to shape everyday primary care. Three key developments stand out:

1. More Personalized Risk Estimates

New tools like polygenic risk scores combine many tiny genetic variations to better predict a person’s risk for cancers such as breast or colorectal cancer. This may eventually allow primary care providers to tailor screening schedules instead of relying solely on age-based guidelines.

2. Multi-Cancer Blood Tests on the Horizon

Emerging blood tests, called multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests, can scan for signals from many cancers at once. While still under evaluation and not yet standard of care, they highlight a

shift toward earlier and less invasive detection methods.

3. Expanded Hereditary Testing

Primary care is increasingly the front door for identifying hereditary cancer syndromes. Updated tools, genetic counseling pathways, and multi-gene panels make it easier to find patients who would benefit from testing based on family history.

In the near future, patients can expect: