ARUP Laboratories Supports Patients and Providers During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“Biopsy Monday. Results Thursday,” my mother’s text read. A routine mammogram had detected two small tumors deep in her breast. Even without an official diagnosis, we knew she was about to begin a battle with cancer. Days later, the pathology report confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma. She’s not alone. Each year, approximately 270,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the CDC. Men can also be affected, though far less frequently.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, schedule screenings, and provide support for patients and survivors of breast cancer. ARUP Laboratories has comprehensive resources and a full suite of tests to help clinicians confirm diagnoses, determine cancer subtypes, and tailor treatment plans.

As we raise awareness this October, it’s important to recognize the role of genetics in breast cancer risk. About 5–10% of breast cancers have a hereditary cause. Inherited mutations in certain genes greatly increase an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most well-known examples, and more than 60% of women who inherit mutations in either gene will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. ARUP has extensive expertise in BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing and offers multiple options to meet patient needs, including genetic counseling, which is strongly recommended along with hereditary cancer testing.

Insurance coverage and reimbursement are increasingly available for BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests, when recommended by a physician. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Medicare will cover testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 when the patient meets certain criteria. Primary prevention strategies to reduce breast cancer risk in individuals who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations include mastectomy, surveillance, and chemoprevention.

For clinicians seeking testing options, ARUP Consult^® offers guidance with up-to-date information. The free online resource helps clinicians choose the right test at the right time with disease-specific guidelines. Breast cancer topics include the recently reviewed Breast Cancer Biomarkers and Hereditary Breast Cancer Panels.

In Utah, ARUP Blood Services, the sole provider of blood products to University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the Huntsman Cancer Institute, hosts blood drives benefiting patients with cancer throughout the year. Up to 25% of blood donations benefit patients battling cancer, and all of the blood products donated to ARUP Blood Services stay in Utah.

This October, pink ribbons remind us to schedule routine screenings and give us hope that precise diagnoses and personalized treatments guided by laboratory testing will ultimately save lives. While my mother’s breast cancer battle is just beginning, I believe she will survive, and my own mammogram is scheduled for later this month.

Bonnie Stray bonnie.stray@aruplab.com