08/25/2026
Always Giving Back - AGB Memphis, Inc. will conduct a FREE Health Educational Seminar. E-mail 📧 [email protected] or call (901) 586-5878 to schedule.
💥This Could Save Your Life and the Lives of Your Family Members💥
A BRCA gene test is a blood or saliva test that checks for inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which normally help protect against cancer.
Who Should Get Tested?
💥 People with a strong personal or family history of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer.
💥 Individuals diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger, or triple-negative breast cancer.
💥 Individuals with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry who have a family history of breast or pancreatic cancer.
💥 Men diagnosed with breast cancer or metastatic prostate cancer.
Test Process
💥 Consultation: Meet with a genetic counselor to review your family medical history.
💥 Sample Collection: A healthcare provider takes a small sample of your blood or collects a saliva sample.
💥 Results: Laboratory results usually take a few weeks to return and are reviewed with your doctor or genetic counselor.
Understanding Results
💥 Positive: A harmful mutation was found, meaning your lifetime risk for certain cancers (like breast and ovarian) is significantly higher. It does not mean you definitely will get cancer.
💥 Negative: No specific mutation was found. If a relative has a known mutation, a negative result means you did not inherit it. Otherwise, it means you have average population risk (though family risk may still exist).
💥 Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS): A genetic change was found, but science does not yet know if it increases cancer risk.
There are several clinical institutions and resources for BRCA gene testing in the Greater Memphis area, including options for comprehensive hereditary risk evaluations, low-cost options, and programs that offer free screenings for qualifying individuals.
Hospital-Based Cancer Centers & Genetic Specialists
These locations provide full-scale hereditary cancer risk assessments, dedicated genetic counselors, and clinical testing. Most accept major insurance plans and provide financial assistance or sliding-scale fees for underinsured patients.
💥 Baptist Cancer Center - Genetic Testing and Counseling Center
✨️ Evidence: Features a dedicated program with genetic specialists who provide specialized cancer risk assessments.
✨️ Address: 80 Humphreys Blvd, Suite 330, Memphis, TN 38120
✨️ Contact &
Hours: 901-226-4068 | Open Monday–Friday, 7:45 AM–6:15 PM
💥 West Cancer Center & Research Institute
✨️ Evidence: Employs certified oncology genetic counselors, like Aimee Martin, CGC, who review family history and coordinate genetic blood or saliva profiles.
✨️ Address: 7945 Wolf River Blvd, Germantown, TN 38138
✨️ Contact & Hours: 901-683-0055 | Open Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–5:00 PM
💥 Regional One Health Cancer Center
✨️ Evidence: Partners directly with West Cancer Center providers to offer accessible, specialized oncology diagnostics and testing to a broader community demographic.
✨️ Address: 1588 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
✨️ Contact & Hours: 901-545-7651 | Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
FREE and Financial Assistance Programs
If you do not have health insurance or if your plan does not fully cover genetic screens, you can access free or heavily subsidized testing through public health frameworks and local nonprofits:
💥 Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program (TBCSP)
✨️ Evidence: Provides free navigation, diagnostic referrals, and preventative screenings for eligible low-income, uninsured, or underinsured residents. They coordinate directly with local public clinics to guide high-risk individuals toward free genetic resources.
💥 Address: 842 Jefferson Ave, Room A432, Memphis, TN 38105
✨️Contact: 901-545-8720
💥 West Cancer Foundation
✨️ Evidence: A dedicated community nonprofit that funds free preventative services, cancer screenings, and patient navigation support specifically for vulnerable populations in the Memphis area.
✨️ Address: 850 Ridge Lake Blvd, Suite 207, Memphis, TN 38120
✨️ Contact: 901-322-2984
💥 Commercial Testing Programs (Invitae / Myriad Financial Aid)
✨️ Evidence: Most clinical labs utilized by local doctors offer patient assistance programs. For example, if you meet specific medical and financial criteria, labs like Invitae or Myriad offer the test at zero out-of-pocket cost. Your doctor or genetic counselor must submit this paperwork on your behalf during your initial consultation.
Direct-to-Consumer / Out-of-Pocket Options
If you do not have a doctor's order and prefer to pay a transparent, flat fee out of pocket, you can use standalone testing facilities. Note that these services generally do not accept insurance for payment but allow you to bypass institutional backlogs:
💥 Any Lab Test Now
✨️ Evidence: Provides direct consumer access to thousands of lab tests with transparent, upfront pricing, accepting HSA and FSA accounts without needing a prior doctor's order.
✨️ Address: 5075 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38117
✨️ Contact & Hours: Open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
