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TechnographDebate raised over genetic cancer testing
Controversy about whether or not insurance companies should pay
By Bridget Maiellaro
Posted: 1/26/06 Section: News
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While Illinois' Senate Bill 12 requires insurance companies to cover screening for breast cancer earlier in a woman's life if she is considered high risk, a new concern for hereditary breast cancer has developed. Its underlying issue is whether or not insurance companies should pay for genetic testing when a patient's family members have cancer.
"I think that the insurance companies should definitely pay for it," said Jill Jurevis, sophomore in LAS, whose grandmother was a breast cancer survivor. "Not only does it help save lives, but insurance companies will have the possibility of saving money that would be spent in the future on surgery, chemo and other treatments."
The controversy stems from the fact that those who have a family history of breast cancer are at higher risk than those who do not. According to the National Cancer Institute's Web site, 192,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Of those women, 5 to 10 percent have a hereditary form of the disease.
"Even if insurance companies covered costs, anybody who has a family history of breast cancer should work with a genetic counselor," said Stephanie Ceman, assistant professor in the College of Medicine. "They are trained to know the risks of each cancer case by determining how related they are to you."
Hereditary breast cancer involves two inherited alterations in the genes known as breast cancer 1 and breast cancer 2, which genetic testing screens for. If a woman has one of these altered genes, her chances of having breast cancer increase significantly. Also, she is more likely to develop cancer at a younger age and is subject for ovarian and/or colon cancers.
However, not all women who inherit the breast cancer 1 or breast cancer 2 genes will develop those cancers.
"If the gene is mutated, it leads to an elevated risk," said Ceman. "Even if you have those mutations it's not 100 percent certain you'll get cancer. However, the risk will be around 45-60 percent, which is certainly higher than the population average."
"I think that the insurance companies should definitely pay for it," said Jill Jurevis, sophomore in LAS, whose grandmother was a breast cancer survivor. "Not only does it help save lives, but insurance companies will have the possibility of saving money that would be spent in the future on surgery, chemo and other treatments."
The controversy stems from the fact that those who have a family history of breast cancer are at higher risk than those who do not. According to the National Cancer Institute's Web site, 192,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Of those women, 5 to 10 percent have a hereditary form of the disease.
"Even if insurance companies covered costs, anybody who has a family history of breast cancer should work with a genetic counselor," said Stephanie Ceman, assistant professor in the College of Medicine. "They are trained to know the risks of each cancer case by determining how related they are to you."
Hereditary breast cancer involves two inherited alterations in the genes known as breast cancer 1 and breast cancer 2, which genetic testing screens for. If a woman has one of these altered genes, her chances of having breast cancer increase significantly. Also, she is more likely to develop cancer at a younger age and is subject for ovarian and/or colon cancers.
However, not all women who inherit the breast cancer 1 or breast cancer 2 genes will develop those cancers.
"If the gene is mutated, it leads to an elevated risk," said Ceman. "Even if you have those mutations it's not 100 percent certain you'll get cancer. However, the risk will be around 45-60 percent, which is certainly higher than the population average."
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