3 chapters across the catalog
NBC's Kate Snow reports on a woman who underwent a double mastectomy after a $249 DNA test from Color Genomics revealed a BRCA1 mutation. The segment questions the "Wild West" nature of the growing genetic testing industry and the role of "unpaid advisors" in promoting these services. Critics worry that testing without a family history of cancer may lead to unnecessary and extreme medical procedures based on statistical likelihoods.
Breast Cancer Previvors and Insurance-Funded Reconstructive Surgery
The term "previvor" is identified as a label for individuals with a genetic predisposition to cancer who undergo preventative surgeries. The hosts critique advertisements for the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, suggesting that legal mandates for insurance to cover reconstructive surgery have created a loophole for elective cosmetic procedures.
Angelina Jolie, Preventive Mastectomy, Affordable Care Act
Angelina Jolie's announcement of a preventive double mastectomy due to the BRCA1 gene mutation is analyzed as a potential PR move for the genetic testing industry. The discussion links the timing of her New York Times op-ed to provisions in the Affordable Care Act that cover such procedures and genetic sequencing.
