deCODE genetics introduces deCODEme Cardio and deCODEme Cancer
deCODE Complete Scan, Cardio Scan and Cancer Scan.
Through deCODEme™, the world’s first retail genome analysis service, deCODE genetics today announced the launch of the first focused genetic scans for assessing personal risk of several major cardiovascular diseases and common cancers. deCODEme Cardio™, which detects genetic risk factors for Heart Attack, Atrial Fibrillation, Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), and several other conditions, is offered at an introductory price of $195. deCODEme Cancer measures genetic risk factors for Prostate Cancer, Lung Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Skin Cancer and Colorectal Cancers, as well as the common form of Breast Cancer, at an introductory price of $225. Both can be ordered as a bundle for $350.
Focused Genetic Scans offer individuals a new way to better understand their risk of cardiovascular disease and common cancers.
“The common diseases, including cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack and stroke, as well as the common forms of cancer in women and men, result from both genetic and environmental risk factors. We are all familiar with many of the environmental and lifestyle factors that impact our risk of these diseases, and we know that addressing these risk factors can lower our risk of disease. Building on our discoveries of inherited risk factors for these diseases, our goal is to help individuals understand the genetic side of the equation. This is empowering information, that may enable people, on their own or working with their doctors, to make more informed decisions to protect their health. In an age when we are encouraged to take more responsibility for our health, we believe that we should all be able to use understanding of our genome to do stay healthy. deCODEme™ opened the era of the personal genome scan, and deCODEme Cardio™ and deCODEme Cancer™ offer individuals who wish to better understand their risk of particular diseases a focused means of doing so,” said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
The scans – deCODEme Cardio™ and deCODEme Cancer™ – build on deCODE’s global leadership in the discovery of common variations in the sequence of the human genome conferring increased risk of common diseases. They combine the latest science and highest quality analysis as only deCODE can. The scans are based on assays custom designed by deCODE scientists to detect the single-letter genetic variations (called SNPs) with the biggest impact on disease risk. These are SNPs validated in large-scale studies by deCODE as well as leading academic research institutions. DNA Analysis is conducted in deCODE’s own CLIA-registered laboratory, one of the largest genotyping facilities in the world. Subscribers have access to genetic counseling. Many deCODE customers have already employed the results of deCODEme and the company’s range of DNA-based risk assessment tests to improve and protect their health. Stories of how deCODE’s products are helping individuals and their physicians to take more control of their health can be found on our blog, at www.deCODEyou.com.
deCODEme Cardio™ measures 8 SNPs associated with the risk of heart attack, intracranical and abdominal aortic aneurysm, stroke and atrial fibrillation, peripherial arterial disease (PAD) and venous thromboempolism. deCODEme Cancer™ measures 29 SNPs associated with risk of prostate, lung, bladder and colorectal cancers, as well as basal cell carcinoma and the common form of breast cancer. Based upon which versions of these SNPs they carry, subscribers will receive a secure online profile presenting their results. Results are presented both in terms of relative risk compared to the general population, as well as absolute lifetime risk, which is the percentage likelihood that an individual will develop a disease in their lifetime, which is their relative risk multiplied by the average lifetime risk in the population.
The results also explain what other risk factors interact with genetic risk to increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a given diseaese, as well as how subscribers may wish to follow up with their doctor to optimize the prevention or early detection of these diseases. deCODEme offers genetic counseling to all its subscribers, and deCODE counselors can be consulted via email or by telephone.
[...] Genome analysis services now cover: deCODEme Cardio and deCODEme Cancer. [...]
Gene Genie #43: Personal genomics, health and evolution | Pharmamotion: pharmacology animations and information blog
1 Feb 09 at 11:55 pm
Hi,I’m a 45 yr old female, happily married, mother of 3 girls 12,10 & 4, whose mother passed away from lung cancer(1984) at the age of 44 (she was a heavy smoker, I am NOT)…. I have no living maternal female relatives (grandmothers, aunts, cousins) that can give me any family health history. I realize that only constitutes 50% of my own “gene-pool” but most recently (Sept. 08)….my very fit and healthy, 71 year old dad survived a cancer scare of his own…. colon surgery (a foot of his colon was removed due to abnormal cell mass)…great news it was not malignant…….As you can see it’s so for obvious reasons I am interested in the full scan. It is really 2 -fold …it is something that I can use to take care of myself as well as it is to pass down to the three amazing little girls that I have been blessed with…….due to current economic times I cannot afford the $ 985.00….. I just finished watching you on the Martha Stewart Show and will be talking this up with everyone I know……I think this is an amazing advance in empowering people to take charge of their own health…..I will continue to visit your website to see if/when there may be a change in cost for this terrific information……god bless and keep up the great work!
Christine
Long Island, NY
Christine Checca
5 Feb 09 at 6:02 pm
Hello Christine Checca
Thank you for your message. We agree – Prevention is what we should strive for. A healthy lifestyle is important so I’m glad you don’t smoke, but knowing your genetic risk can help you figure out where you should show extra caution. We are currently offering a 25% discount on the deCODEme Complete Scan and the new deCODEme Cancer Scan is at an introductory price of $225. I recommend that you read our customer stories to see how other people have found the genetic tests informative and useful
Jon
The deCODEme Team
admin
5 Feb 09 at 7:38 pm
Does your own genetic profile change as you age? Would my profile if done in middle age be different from what it was at birth, with mutations or exposure to environmental stressors?
Kerry
6 Feb 09 at 9:40 pm
Hello Kerry
Your genetic profile does not change throughout our life. On the other hand your environment, lifestyle (for example what you eat, if you smoke etc.) can affect gene expression. For more on this I recommend that you read the interview with Dr. Robert Superko on the deCODEme website and watch the video interviews. What he says in the last interview clip is relevant to your question. The address is: http://www.decodeme.com/customer-stories/robert-superko-md-on-genetic-tests
admin
7 Feb 09 at 8:15 pm
Hi,I’m a 45 yr old female, happily married, mother of 3 girls 12,10 & 4, whose mother passed away from lung cancer(1984) at the age of 44 (she was a heavy smoker, I am NOT)…. I have no living maternal female relatives (grandmothers, aunts, cousins) that can give me any family health history. I realize that only constitutes 50% of my own “gene-pool” but most recently (Sept. 08)….my very fit and healthy, 71 year old dad survived a cancer scare of his own…. colon surgery (a foot of his colon was removed due to abnormal cell mass)…great news it was not malignant…….As you can see it’s so for obvious reasons I am interested in the full scan. It is really 2 -fold …it is something that I can use to take care of myself as well as it is to pass down to the three amazing little girls that I have been blessed with…….due to current economic times I cannot afford the $ 985.00….. I just finished watching you on the Martha Stewart Show and will be talking this up with everyone I know……I think this is an amazing advance in empowering people to take charge of their own health…..I will continue to visit your website to see if/when there may be a change in cost for this terrific information……god bless and keep up the great work!
Christine
Long Island, NY
HO
5 Oct 09 at 6:51 am