I

KJ

CALLED

MOM FOR LUNCH ON TUESDAY,

BUT SHE WAS GOING TO A BOOK

each year, double the rate of six co-workers, or your insurance
years ago. In 1950, one in 20 company? No wonder this simple
women developed breast cancer. blood test involves counseling.
Today, that rate is one in seven.
The pretest counseling process
Yet, there are times that test- can take one, two, or more ses-
ing can yield extremely useful in- sions. Sinai offers genetic coun-
formation.
seling for a $90 fee, regardless of
"Testing can help get the high- the number of sessions it takes.
est-risk people the most appro-
"We talk for as long as we need
priate care and help the people to," says Ms. Gold of Sinai.
who turn out to be at no increased
The first sessions are informa-
risk to avoid unnecessary surgery tive. An accurate family history is
and worry," says Ms. Sargent.
essential. In the second session,
Genetic counseling is designed or group of sessions, counselor and
to help women sift through their patient discuss the pros and cons.
personal situations and figure out Based on family history, a woman
if test results could help them wor- may be eligible for testing. If so,
ry less or prompt lifestyle changes. she needs to know the cost, and
Dr. Nathanson stresses dietary the implications of a positive, neg-
changes, taking vitamins, eating ative or uninformative test.
a low-fat diet heavy on the fruits
If the patient wants testing, at
and vegetables. He encourages the third visit she will give in-
women to get regular mammo- formed consent and have blood
grams and to perform regular self- drawn. In the fourth visit, the pa-
exams. Both techniques increase tient receives the test results and
the likelihood of detecting the can- discusses the ramifications.
cer early, therefore decreasing the
A positive test result can have
chances that the disease will be serious social ramifications, such
life threatening.
as -being denied insurance cover-
For some women at very high age or employment. According to
risk, he recommends the antie- Ms. Sargent, this has not hap-
strogen drug tamoxifen, which is pened for those testing positive for
also used to treat breast cancer a mutation of the breast cancer
and prevent its recurrence. Some suppressor gene, but people who
women at very high risk have un- have tested positive for other mu-
dergone prophylactic mastec- tations have been denied insur-
tomies, which Dr. Nathanson, as ance coverage and have lost
well as the American Congress of employment.
Surgeons, does not recommend.
Ms. Sargent knows of a woman
If a woman tests negative, she who was perfectly healthy, but
has no higher risk than any oth- tested positive for Huntington's
er woman her age in her general disease. The woman talked about
health status. She doesn't have to her results with someone at work.
go through extra mammograms She lost her job, her insurance and
or wonder if she should have pro- her fiancee.
phylactic surgery.
Some Ashkenazi Jewish
However, many people don't fit women with a family history of
into a real clear category and test- breast and ovarian cancer are fear-
ing can often yield inconclusive re- ful of discrimination and have re-
sults. fused testing.
Says Ms. Sargent, "If you're
"In New York and some other
someone with a family history and areas in the east, especially in the
you get results back that say un- Orthodox community, there have
interpretable, you might have been some instances of genetic dis-
spent a few hundred, or a few crimination," Ms. Sargent says.
thousand dollars, and the results "It has affected the marriageabil-
do not help you."
ity of women in families where
If one tests positive, the is-
there is significant risk of
sues are still complex. What Dividing breast or ovarian cancer."
DNA'
do you do about it? What do
Testing can reveal infor-
double
you tell other members of
mation about other people in
helix.
your family who may also be
thabfamily, and a patient may
at risk and may not want to
know? Do you tell your boss, your GENE page 78

•

REVIEW IN THE LIBRARY.

I DROPPED BY ON THURSDAY, BUT

SHE COULDN'T COME BECAUSE

SHE WAS BUSY IN THE ACTIVITIES

ROOM WORKING ON HER NEW

EXERCISE PLAN. I INVITED MYSELF

TO LUNCH WITH HER ON FRIDAY,

AND THE FOOD WAS TERRIFIC. I

TOLD MOM TO CALL MY BROTHER

AND LET HIM KNOW HOW SHE

LIKES HER NEW HOME AT

THE HEATHERWOOD. I HOPE SHE

CAN FIND TIME TO CALL.

the IM

ATHERWOOD

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Retirement _Living for the
cMclive s Senior

For information call
Kathy Ostrowski

(810) 350-1 777

22800 CIVIC CENTER DINE
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

SOU. HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY

czclio

c_Sczoe °I, 200. °°

Fresh, Fast,

Right on the mark.

Want toi lpow what's hip and
happening with Detroit's Jewish
young adults and singles? (heck
"The Scene Every
in
The Detroit Jewish News.

