On NY Times Article: “New Genetic Tests for Breast Cancer Hold Promise”
New York City, New York (PRWEB) April 25, 2015 -- The news that Silicon Valley start-up, Color Genomics, has devised a genetic screening for breast and ovarian cancer that is so inexpensive that most women will now be able to have the screening done will likely forever change breast cancer treatment for women. (NY Times, 4-21-15)*
But, it brings with it new questions and concerns for women. Should they have the screening or not? What if they carry the gene mutation? Should they elect to have a prophylactic mastectomy? How can they find out more information?
“This is important news for women worldwide,” says Dr. Joshua Levine, Board Certified Microsurgeon and Breast Reconstruction Division Chief at NY Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai Hospital. “As a private practice New York breast reconstruction surgeon, women who have been tested and carry the BRCA gene mutation routinely ask about their reconstruction options. Many are in a very similar situation to Angelina Jolie: health and cancer prevention is their top priority, but there are strong fears and concerns when facing mastectomy and breast reconstruction,” he continued.
“An elective mastectomy and reconstruction can be a very difficult decision for a woman to make,” says Levine. “Women may also think their breast reconstructive options are limited or suboptimal which is no longer true.”
According to Dr. Levine, a specialist in the field of microsurgical breast reconstruction, it is very important for women understand that breast reconstruction has become very sophisticated. Newer techniques and procedures allow women to have natural, normal-looking and feeling breast reconstruction using their own body tissue without muscle sacrifice. “The results are so life-like, that many women do not even think of them as reconstructed breasts,” says Levine. “Anyone who is a candidate for breast reconstruction is a candidate for one of these procedures (called perforator flaps, or DIEP). If BRCA patients know about the quality of today's breast reconstructions, high-risk patients may be more comfortable choosing prophylactic mastectomy. This may in turn save lives,” Dr. Levine concludes.
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*Story Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/business/more-accurate-affordable-tests-for-detecting-breast-cancer-genes.html?_r=0
Joshua L. Levine, MD, Board Certified NY Breast Microsurgeon
3 Columbus Circle, Suite #1410
New York, NY 10019
Leslie Hare
Media Relations
Ph: (917) 214-6453
Email: lhare(at)joshualevine(dot)com
Leslie Hare, Webanalytics, +1 7327873314, [email protected]
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