The second time she heard about the procedure, it was from her doctor, who recommended it as a way to discern why she was experiencing discharge from one of her breasts. For women who have a risk of breast cancer, Ramsey discovered, the future is now.
Ductal lavage examines cells from inside the milk ducts, where most breast cancers originate.
The cells are put under a microscope to check for abnormalities, which could be a precursor to cancer. Only about 70 doctors in the United States perform the test, but the company expects to train many more. Ramsey, a Hollywood resident, went to Dr. Robert Donoway, the only doctor in South Florida offering the test. Company officials said the test has just started to become available across the country. In May, Donoway, a surgical oncologist, performed the test for the first time on a handful of women, including Ramsey, at Hollywood Medical Center.