September 29, 2023
UF Health wants annual breast cancer screenings for all gynecology patients
UF Health is working with Invitae, a genetics testing company.

Breast Cancer

UF Health wants annual breast cancer screenings for all gynecology patients

Laura Hampton | 9/28/2021

UF Health is piloting a program to offer genetic screening for breast cancer to all gynecology patients as part of their annual exams.

Based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the program was conceived by Dr. Sonja A. Rasmussen, a clinical geneticist and director of UF’s Precision Health Program, which integrates genomics into clinical care.

To lead the pilot, Rasmussen enlisted the help of Dr. Shireen Madini Sims, associate professor in the UF College of Medicine’s department of obstetrics and gynecology.

For almost a year, Sims has been the only physician at UF Health to offer genetic screening for breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer in routine care. The screenings are provided in partnership with Invitae, a genetics testing company. Sims talked with FLORIDA TREND about the program:

The process: "Patients fill out an online survey and answer questions about their personal family medical history. The system uses the information to assess their risks and need for genetic testing."

Significance: "First, we can determine if they meet the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria to do genetic testing. The second thing ... it tells if the patient meets the criteria for modified breast imaging as a screening. Some women have risks high enough that they should do MRIs every year in addition to mammograms. The third thing is it calculates the Tyrer-Cuzick score for each patient. That is the score that estimates a patient’s lifetime risk of breast cancer. Anything higher than 20% is considered elevated. Some of those patients will meet the criteria to take medicines to reduce their lifetime risk of breast cancer, so we have a lot of opportunity to intervene."

Use: "It’s still not very widespread. We’re trying to work out the kinks and figure out how best to get this done, but, certainly, we’re hoping this will broaden out to the medical community as a standard practice."

Discoveries: "The patients are really, really appreciative. I think patients want to feel they have some ownership of their health care, but what I hear over and over is, 'I have a daughter. I have sisters. I have grandkids. I want to have this information in case it’s important for them.' "

 

Read more in Florida Trend's October issue.
Select from the following options:

Tags: Feature

Florida Business News

  • Florida’s population boom drives bigger hurricane losses, despite tougher building codes

    Florida leads the nation in strict building codes, and the decades of hard work have paid off in the increasing number of homes and buildings that survive each time a hurricane slashes the state. But all those hard-won gains have been undermined by the explosion of growth along the coast.

  • Business BeatBusiness Beat - Week of September 29th

    Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

  • Enterprise Florida exiting

    The doors are ready to close on Enterprise Florida, the business-recruitment agency long targeted by state House leaders.

  • Seeking protection

    Three activist groups served notice to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that they intend to sue to force the agency to invoke Endangered Species Act protection for the ghost orchid.

  • State jobless claims decrease

    An estimated 5,155 first-time jobless claims were filed in Florida last week, a decrease from the previous week and below the average for the year.

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

Radioactive roads? Florida has yet to submit application to EPA to start testing
Radioactive roads? Florida has yet to submit application to EPA to start testing

It appears no steps have been taken to begin testing whether slightly radioactive waste from fertilizer production can be repurposed for Florida road construction projects.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Do you believe that home values in Florida have finally peaked?

  • Absolutely!
  • No way!
  • The jury's still out...
  • Other (Let us know in the comment section below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2023 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.