Getting More Answers for Breast Cancer Patients
Breast cancer patients could get more answers from genetic testing and counseling.
FOX’s Dr. Sapna Parikh explains in this “Housecall for Health”:
This is Housecall for Health.
A diagnosis of breast cancer means a lot of questions and a search for answers: What kind of surgery is best for me? What will the follow-up treatment be like? And what’s the long-term prognosis?
But according to a new study, some questions are not answered because genetic testing wasn’t done. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds only a small percentage of woman with early stage breast cancer receive genetic testing before they have surgery.
Researchers say genetic testing can help guide woman and their doctors in choosing what kind of surgery to have and what treatments should follow to reduce the risk of new cancer forming in the future.
Some answers can come from a thorough family history, but genetic testing could provide more information. The study also finds that among the women who are tested, many are not offered genetic counseling to help explain what it all means for them and for their prognosis.
For more health news, go to FOXNews.com.
I’m Dr. Sapna Parikh, FOX News.
