October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the HALO breast test is discounted to $50 until Oct. 30. The regular price is $75.

Tahoe Women’s Care is among the few OB/GYN practices in the region to offer the new HALO breast test which collects breast fluid to be tested. There are no others in Northern Nevada and the closest in California is San Diego.

Designed to detect abnormal cells, a HALO test may identify precancerous breast diseases up to eight years earlier than a lesion might be found by a mammogram.

Breast cancers typically originate in the ductal system. A woman with atypical cells has a four to five times greater risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not produce fluid.

The HALO test does not replace mammography or self-exam, but identifies high-risk women. About half of all women won’t secrete fluid, which puts them in the lowest risk category. For those who do and have abnormal cells, Tahoe Women’s Care will monitor them closely and counsel them on lifestyle changes, and may recommend imaging options such as an MRI, ultrasound or diagnostic mammogram, or discuss minor surgical or pharmaceutical options.

A HALO breast test is not covered by insurance however some or all of the resulting lab tests may be covered by insurance.

Tahoe Women’s Care sees patients on Fourth Street in South Lake Tahoe and on Mica Drive in Carson City.

To make your appointment, call Tahoe Women’s Care at (530) 544.8333 or (775) 267.6700 or visit www.bartonhealth.org/HALO.