Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/179241
Cost of Testing The cost of the blood test to determine BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations can range from a few hundred dollars to upwardsof $4,000, depending on the specific type of BRCA test a woman needs, which varies by ethnicity, family history and other factors. Insurance often pays for the test when genetic counselors recommend it. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down an important decision to limit gene patentability that could eventually lead to significant cost reductions for genetic tests like those used for BRCA1 and BRCA2. In turn, lower prices will likely make the tests increasingly accessible to a much wider range of women. 56 brava magazine | OCTOBER 2013 "It just didn't feel like something I wanted to undergo," she says. "I don't really identify closely with my physical body. I identify more with my spiritual self. I don't even have a prosthetic." Though Ward is far from alone in deciding to forgo reconstruction after breast cancer-related surgeries, experts agree women at least need to be aware that it's a viable option. The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, passed in 1999, requires insurance companies to pay for breast reconstruction if a mastectomy patient wants it. "A lot of women weren't referred [to a plastic surgeon] before this law because it was an extra financial burden. Now it's not really a reason," says Dr. Samuel Poore, a plastic surgeon at UW Hospital who specializes in breast reconstruction. "It's a huge wave of relief for women. This law was set up to protect them." Unfortunately many Wisconsin women, especially those living in smaller or more rural communities, don't know the law exists. Poore and Afifi are among the health care providers at the UW Breast Center who participate in outreach efforts to help spread the word. "Multiple studies show women from smaller communities across the country are never even referred to a plastic surgeon," Poore says. "We're at a point now where, through the Breast Center, we're getting the message out around the state that reconstruction is available and should be offered to every woman undergoing mastectomy." It's also very common for women to wait awhile before going through reconstruction surgeries. "Women can have reconstruction any time along the way," Poore says. "Just because you haven't had it in the past doesn't mean you can't in the future." Navigating the unexpected One day during her recovery, Ward's tongue turned bright, "Smurf-colored" blue. "I wasn't having a reaction," she says. "I felt fine. It was just blue." It's the little things like this about breast cancer that women often don't know to expect, and there's only so much about the experience that will fit into a brochure or pamphlet from the doctor. Instead, UW Health doctors and breast cancer survivors themselves strongly encourage women undergoing any breastrelated procedures to seek out others who have been there. Barroilhet says finding additional sources for support is crucial for women who undergo genetic testing and any subsequent procedures. "They should be asking who can I talk to? Who has walked this road before me?" she says. Sometimes access to support groups can be an issue. McMillan, who lives and works in Beloit, currently has no plans to seek out a support group, but she acknowledges this may change after her surgery. Though she was referred to a group called Facing Our Risk of Cancer, or FORCE, the meetings are only held in Milwaukee and Chicago. For now, she relies on her husband and her family. Grundahl also thought she wouldn't need a support network outside of her immediate family. "I don't like woe-isme type stuff," she says.