Knowing that her mother died of breast cancer in her 30s made this Member painfully aware of the potential risk she faced. PinnacleCare helped her get an accurate assessment of her risk and develop a proactive plan for detection and prevention, providing peace of mind.

A 35-year old PinnacleCare Member’s mother had passed away from breast cancer when she was in her 30s. With the history of breast cancer in her family, the Member was naturally concerned over her risk of inheriting the disease. Although the Member knew that she was more at risk because of her mother’s experience, she was not aware of the tests available that can successfully detect breast cancer in women at an early stage.

Her PinnacleCare Advocate Team introduced her to the option of genetic testing. Genetic testing involves a simple blood test that searches for any inherited abnormalities in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes, the genes most closely related to breast cancer risk. Inherited gene abnormality can not only increase the risk of breast cancer, it can also increase the risk of ovarian cancer. PinnacleCare connected the Member with a counselor who assessed her family medical history and helped walk her through the genetic testing process.

Fortunately, her test results were negative. Though guidelines for breast cancer prevention recommend that a woman should begin screening for breast cancer when she turns 40, this guideline is not appropriate for a woman with a family history of breast cancer. Therefore, the Member’s PinnacleCare Advocate Team assures that she is screened for breast cancer annually. The Member’s concern of a genetic predisposition to breast cancer has been have alleviated thanks to the knowledge she gained from her tests and the proactive support of her PinnacleCare Advocate team.

To learn more about PinnacleCare and how we can help you or a family member have a better healthcare experience please do not hesitate to contact one of our membership consultants at 888-541-0902 or email us at PinnacleCare@PinnacleCare.com.