Â鶹ŮÓÅ

Doctors often fail to recommend genetic testing for breast-cancer patients, even those who are at high risk for mutations linked to ovarian and other cancers, according to a study published Tuesday. Researchers said the findings, which appear online in the Journal of the American Medical Association, are troubling because genetic tests can help guide women's choice of treatments for existing disease, as well as point to ways to reduce the risk of future cancer. (McGinley, 2/7)

When asked why they didn't get tested, the majority of the 773 high-risk patients said it was because their doctor didn't recommend it to them. Just 13.7 percent of them said the test was too expensive, and 10.7 percent said they didn't want it. The researchers say this suggests a disconnect between oncologist and patient, whether it be assessing BRCA risk isn't on the physician's radar, or that they just don't find it important. The study surveyed 2,529 women overall. (Boddy, 2/7)