Today is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We are airing a story that features a woman going through radiation to treat breast cancer. When I met with Anne a week or so ago, she was almost finished with her treatments and doing great! It was nice to be able sit down with Anne and talk about her experience. If she hadn’t told me, I never would have guessed that she is 80 years old! She chose to have radiation at a community cancer center near her home. That allows her to continue her many daily activities.
Anne was diagnosed with cancer in February after having a routine mammogram. Doctors recommend that women get the test every year starting at age 40 if there are no risk factors, and earlier if there are risk factors like a family history of breast cancer.
I recently did a story about another test that screens for celluar changes in the milk glands that could lead to cancer. Dr. Iacob Marcovici is the first doctor in Connecticut to administer the test. He showed us how it works… and explained that this test for breast cancer is similar to a pap test for colon cancer. The entire procedure takes about 5 minutes, and is non-invasive. The company that makes the Halo recommends women start getting the test at age 25. This allows doctors to compare the celluar changes from year to year. For more information about the test, you can visit Dr. Marcovici’s web site: http://drmarcovici.com/obgyn/serv_innovative.asp
Unfortunately this test is not covered by insurance, but for the month of Octobor, Dr. Marcovici is reducing the price of the test to $100. Normally it costs $125.
