in helping Renown Health physicians and clinicians assess family history risk of breast and ovarian cancer syndrome . This in turn , enables us to provide our at-risk patients the best available tools for prevention or to catch cancer at an earlier stage , which affords less aggressive treatment options with significantly improved survival .”
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Prevention or early detection of disease is such an important part of healthcare .”
Bill Plauth , MD , MME , CPE
Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health
The study found that routine genetic screening for individuals with a strong family history of these cancers could lead to more personalized and effective healthcare strategies , including preventative surgeries , increased surveillance , or early interventions . It also highlights the gap in awareness and access to genetic testing , particularly in underserved populations .
Key Recommendations from the Study Authors Include :
• Increased Engagement of Patients with Physicians : People with a family history should discuss their history with their primary care physician or health care provider and request a genetic screening . This proactive approach to prevention will save lives .
• Increased Access to Genetic Testing : The need for more accessible and affordable testing options , like the no-cost screening provided by the Healthy Nevada Project ®, particularly for those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer .
• Increased Pre-Screening and Genetic Counseling : Providing patients with the necessary counseling to understand the implications of genetic mutations and guide their healthcare decisions . Pre-screening patients with either a personal or family history of cancer with one of several simple family history tools , such as the FHS-7 Questionnaire to determine whether they should be referred for genetic services would also help increase early identification and reduce costs .
As of January 2024 , the Healthy Nevada Project ® had notified 330 individuals with P / LP variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes of their genetic risk , of a study population of more than 53,000 patients . The Healthy Nevada Project ®, powered by Renown Health and University of Nevada , Reno School of Medicine , is one of the largest genomic studies in the United States . The genomic study is at no-cost for Nevadans and gives participants insight into different genetic traits , as well as results on their predisposition for three prevalent and serious health conditions known as the CDC Tier 1 conditions because of their significant potential to positively impact public health .
Study authors include University of Nevada , Reno School of Medicine , ( Daniel Kiser , MS ; Gai Elhanhan , MD Iva Neveux , MS ; William J . Metcalf , MS ; Catherine McCarthy , MD ; Leslie A . Greenberg , MD ; Joseph J . Grzymski PhD ); Helix , Inc . San Mateo , CA ( Alexandre Bolze , PhD ; Elizabeth T . Cirulli , PhD ) and Renown Health , Reno ( Savanna Grime , BA ; Jamie M . Schnell Blitstein , APRN ; William Plauth MD ; Joseph J . Grzymski PhD .
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