Heaven sent

A Burbank surgeon claims 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of it. In response, Dr. Deanna Attai said she uses a test to help her evaluate younger women’s risk of developing the disease.

Women 50 and older have the mammogram to help in early detection of breast cancer, but it isn’t part of the annual exams for younger women, unless they or family members have had a history of the disease.

In the last two years, Attai, a board-certified surgeon with the Center for Breast Care, has been using the HALO Breast Pap Test for assessing the risk of breast cancer in women ages 18 to 50.

It’s the only FDA-cleared risk screening test for nonhereditary breast cancer, Attai said, and can detect abnormal cells years before a larger, potentially cancerous lesion might develop.

“We feel there’s this test available that is noninvasive, not painful, only takes minutes and can provide valuable risk assessment information, why wouldn’t you want to have this test,” she said. It can be done in the doctor’s office during a lunch hour, she added.

There is a misconception that only those with a family history can develop breast cancer, but everyone is at risk, including men, she said.

“So we are trying to figure out which out of the group of young women need more extensive evaluation than just once-a-month self-breast examinations and once a year clinical breast examinations by a physician or health-care provider,” she said.

The HALO test is not a replacement for a mammogram for women in their 40s and 50s, she said.

“It’s just another tool in my toolbox to help with risk assessment evaluation,” Attai said.

The HALO machine extracts fluid from the breasts, Attai said. The fluid is then sent to a lab, and if it doesn’t have any abnormal cells in it, she continues self-breast exams each month and returns in a year for her next HALO test.

But if there is an abnormality, that might indicate that she is at a higher risk for eventually developing breast cancer, Attai said.

“It doesn’t mean she has it or will ever get it, but this says let’s take a step back and let’s look more closely at family history and at lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise,” she said.

Other options available if the test comes back abnormal is a mammogram, even though it’s not recommended until age 40, or an MRI, she said.

Maggie Mollett, 29, of Glendale, had the test last week.

The La Cañada High School grad had her first surgery for a benign breast tumor at 19.

“That tumor was very large,” she said. “It grew from the size of a quarter and within a month, it was almost as large as an orange,” she said.

Mollett does monthly self-breast examinations and recently discovered another tumor on the opposite breast.

She contacted Susan E. Downey, attending plastic surgeon at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, who performed the first surgery.

Downey, a colleague of Attai’s, recommended Mollett go to Attai for an ultrasound, and when she did, they discussed her taking the HALO test, Mollett said.

She’s an example of a patient who should have the HALO test because she has had two tumors within 10 years, Downey said, adding it’s another way to find out why the tumors keep recurring.

“It’s one more screening test that can be used in young women as part of the whole work-up, especially in a young woman like Maggie who is now coming with a second problem with her breast,” Downey said.

Attai did an ultrasound and discovered a second smaller tumor. Both tumors will be removed by Downey in November, Mollett said.

A litigation paralegal, Mollett said she read about the HALO test on Attai’s website, www.CFBCI.com, before consenting to having it.

“I decided why not have it,” she said. “It’s less painful than a pap smear.”

Now she’s recommending it to other young women in her law office and at least 10 plan to have it as well, she said.

“It’s so important for women my age to take their health serious,” Mollett said. “Anything you can do to have more information about this disease the better.”

Mollett had a wake-up call at 19 that told her she couldn’t take her health for granted.

“I realized I was not going to live forever and I’m now on top of it,” she said.

Now she exercises six days a week, is on the Mediterranean Diet, doesn’t smoke and limits her alcohol intact to family special occasions, she said.

A low-fat diet will lower one’s risk of obesity and heart disease and can also potentially reduce one’s risk for development of certain cancers, Attai said. If one is overweight, they are at higher risk for breast cancer.

“Maggie eats nothing processed and has a moderate amount of healthy fat,” Attai said. “Instead of a cheeseburger, she will have avocado or olive oil on her salmon.”