Outcomes4Me study reveals breast cancer patients not offered genomic testing
The Outcomes4Me survey, which was conducted with more than 200 breast cancer patients over a period of two months, found that only 28 percent of advanced or metastatic breast cancer patients (Stage III or Stage IV) have had a genomic test, and only 50 percent of those patients that were not tested were at least somewhat aware or familiar with genomic testing, reported the organization.
Outcomes4Me Inc. presented the results of a genomics awareness study conducted in partnership with Foundation Medicine Inc. at the virtual 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) 2020.
The level of awareness was significantly lower for those patients treated at community centers versus academic centers. Further, 88 percent of patients that were not tested said they were interested in genomic testing, while 85 percent said they were likely to ask their doctor about getting genomic testing, only after learning about Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP).
"Genomic testing allows doctors to learn more about a tumor's individual characteristics and ultimately provides the patient with more personalized treatment options," said Osama Rahma, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Advisor of Outcomes4Me. "Test results can also expand patient access and eligibility for new and innovative treatments including clinical trials, and have been proven to help prolong a patient's life. Although Medicare and most healthcare insurance companies cover 100percent of the costs associated with genomic profile testing, the data shows that most advanced breast cancer patients don't get their tumor profiled."
