Innovative Care
Renown Women ’ s Health and UNR Med Announce Expansion of Urogynecology Services for Northern Nevada
Dr . Angela Dao , a fellowship-trained subspecialist in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery , has joined Dr . Kerac Falk with the goal of continuing to provide skilled , compassionate and evidence-based treatments for women ’ s pelvic floor disorders . These common conditions include prolapse , urinary / bowel incontinence , fistulas and recurrent urinary tract infections .
Dr . Dao is currently accepting new patients , significantly reducing the wait times for consultations and surgical scheduling . Referrals can be sent to Renown under “ Urogynecology .”
Study from UNR Med and Renown in JAMA Network Open Highlights Gaps in Genetic Screening for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer
A new original investigation article published in JAMA Network Open , “ Screening Familial Risk for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer ,” by authors from University of Nevada , Reno School of Medicine , Renown Health and Helix for the Healthy Nevada Project ® emphasizes the critical need to increase genetic screening in identifying individuals at increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer due to family history . This landmark study calls for enhanced awareness , the adoption of genetic screening practices , and , importantly , the direct screening of family history by individuals using a simple tool such as the FHS-7 questionnaire .
The research underscores that individuals with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer have a higher likelihood of carrying genetic mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 , which significantly elevate their cancer risk . However , many at-risk individuals remain unaware of their genetic predispositions due to limited screening practices .
Evidence suggests that “ up to 80 % of patients with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic ( P / LP ) variant in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are unaware of their condition and subsequent risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer . Rare or less penetrant P / LP variants in genes such as PALB2 , CHEK2 and ATM are even less likely to be detected . This is concerning because the lifetime risk for breast cancer exceeds 50 % for women with P / LP variants in BRCA1 / 2 and 20 % for women in P / LP variants in PALB2 , CHEK2 and ATM ( compared with a baseline risk of 12 %).”
The study also found that men with family history are just as likely to have pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 as women . This is important because not only are men at increased risk of breast , prostate and other cancers , these risks are passed on to daughters , nieces and other members of the family through inheritance . Men are under-represented in the Healthy Nevada Project ® and other similar population health studies .
“ Prevention or early detection of disease is such an important part of healthcare ,” says Bill Plauth , MD , MMM , CPE , Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Nevada , Reno School of Medicine . “ The Healthy Nevada Project ® is leading the way
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