Will personal mapping of DNA become the next wellness and health trend? Two companies, Navigenics and 23andMe are banking on exactly that. Both 23andMe and Navigenics made news on Wednesday when a California court judged that they may continue to offer their services in that state. Prior to the ruling, the California Department of Public Health had issued “cease and desist” letters to thirteen companies offering similar services, but none as prominent as 23andMe or Navigenics, which have benefited from buzz and PR in recent months both within and outside of the health care industry and health care information worlds. The letters asserted that the companies were not authorized to operate as laboratories and that genetic testing required... [Read more]

News outlets are reporting that actress Christina Applegate has chosen to have a double mastectomy for breast cancer. She chose to do so after undergoing lumpectomies in the affected breast to remove early-stage cancer from one breast and after learning that she is at higher risk for breast cancer due to a mutation in a breast cancer gene, BRCA-1. However, for many early-stage breast cancer patients, mastectomy is not a recommended treatment, and it may not increase survival rates in the long term. The article states that:  Growing numbers of women are opting for double mastectomies, even when they have cancer only in one — even when they lack the risk factors of women like Applegate. Among women with cancer in one breast, the risk of developing... [Read more]

While the data about exercise helping reduce risk of cancer has been out for a while, the idea that exercise can help during cancer treatment is gaining more and more traction. In fact, some gyms are tailoring their offerings specifically to people living with cancer and experiencing effects of treatment such as lymphedema and cancer-related fatigue. The exercise classes are supported by many leading cancer centers in their localities, such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York and Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. For example, in Philadelphia, Fox Chase is working with the gym Curves to see if breast cancer patients can stick to an exercise routine during treatment. While people undergoing treatment for cancer often have to be careful... [Read more]

The New York Times reports on a study that family doctors are making an awful lot of mistakes when it comes to routine lab tests such as blood draws. The study, published originally in the journal Quality and Safety in Health Care, was conducted by physicians in the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) research network. It found that errors in testing can happen at any point along the way, from ordering a test to failing to notify a patient when the test results return. These results aren’t that surprising, but what concerns me the most is the cost-saving potential of getting the correct test ordered, completed, and reported to both physician and patient in a short period of time. We waste a huge amount of money in our health system... [Read more]

New data from a survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) indicates that Americans may be foregoing health services to save money. The survey questioned 686 consumers of health care, and 22% responded that they have reduced the number or frequency of doctor visits. While the NAIC should be commended for recognizing that lack of insurance contributes to people skipping doctor’s visits or not filling prescriptions to save money, more research needs to be done to quantify how many Americans with insurance are cutting back on health care service consumption as well. Even the insured may be subject to large deductibles, co-payments, or co-insurance amounts on top of premiums that fewer employers are sharing. Also,... [Read more]