Imagine a blood test that could help determine your risk for breast cancer.
That’s the goal behind a pilot study conducted at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue.
It’s also being done at six other medical centers across the country.
As part of the study, researchers take blood samples from patients and the data will be used to see if it can help differentiate between a patient with low or high risks of breast cancer after an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound.
“Three-quarters of biopsies we do come up benign or non-cancerous, so it would be nice to decrease the number of those biopsies”, said Dr. Steve Scallon, the medical director of the Overlake Breast Health Center.
The blood test could also cost a lot less than a more invasive medical procedure.
Rashil Offutt, 37, took part in the study of Overlake.
Her biopsy turned up benign.
She said she hopes the blood test will work one day, not just for her, but for other patients as well.
“If there are other alternatives that are faster, less invasive and more affordable, that means more women are going to pursue them,’’ said Offutt
Researchers are now reviewing the data of the study and in the fall, a full clinical is set to begin.
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