Why aren't high-risk breast cancer patients getting genetic testing?
According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, physicians are failing to recommend genetic testing for patients who are at risk of breast cancer, including those at high risk for mutations linked to ovarian cancer.
Many women turn to mammogram screening but are not aware of the powerful tool of genetic testing. The researchers survey more than 2,500 breast cancer patients two months after that had undergone surgery. About two-thirds of the women wanted to get genetic testing, yet less than a third actually followed through. A handful of women didn’t get tested because their doctors did not recommend it, while others said it was too pricey.
About eight out of 10 women who were at an increased risk of BRCA mutations were open to getting tested, but only a little over half of them actually received it.
See what the researchers had to say about the study:
Jodelle joined TriMed Media Group in 2016 as a senior writer, focusing on content for Radiology Business and Health Imaging. After receiving her master's from DePaul University, she worked as a news reporter and communications specialist.