Key points from today’s guests:

Kathy Ritz, breast cancer survivor and Libby’s mother

• Kathy’s sister Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Kathy, her mother and her maternal grandmother had already survived the disease. But when Debbie's cancer metastasized, Kathy was on a mission to find the best doctor to treat her sister -- everyone pointed her to The University of Kansas Cancer Center.
• Dr. Carol Fabian took one look at the family history and ran genetic testing found a mutation of the ATM gene, which can increase a person's chances of developing breast cancer.
• Kathy started doing preventative screenings every six months when her daughter Libby turned 30.
• Two years later, Kathy was diagnosed for the second time with breast cancer. Thanks to the prevention screening, Kathy's cancer was caught early.

Libby Sinovic, breast cancer survivor

• Libby went in for her routine screening shortly after and at age 32, was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
• It was hard to see her mother going through surgery a week before her own, but it was inspiring to see her strength to help her through her own journey.
• Both had double mastectomies.
• She said that having done the surgery, and feeling that much more competent that her risk of recurrence is lower because of it, it was worth it.
• The family and circle of friends and community were just amazing in helping them get through this.

Dr. Lauren Nye, medical oncologist; clinical director, High Risk Breast Clinic, The University of Kansas Cancer Center

• A lot of people are more familiar with the BRCA genes, but there's a handful of genes that can contribute to an individual's risk of breast cancer and ATM is one of those genes.
• It can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer up to 40 percent or even higher depending on the variation or variant that we see.
• We're learning more and more about these genetic mutations. And we know that women and men can be at risk for cancers if they have an ATM genetic mutation such as prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and maybe even ovarian cancer.
• Breast cancer is the greatest risk associated with the ATM gene mutation.
• Know your family history of breast cancer and talk to somebody about your best screening options for you because screening leads to early detection.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director, infection prevention & control, The University of Kansas Health System

• COVID hospitalizations this week are at 14 active patients. Last week, that number was 22.
• Arkansas has reported a local case of malaria. This is concerning because malaria was eliminated in the U.S. in the 1950s.
• It’s one more thing to look at when we see sick patients in the hospital.
• Overall, remember to wear bug spray with DEET to help prevent mosquito bites.

Morning Medical Update is on TV in October! The four-part series Cancer: Choices, Hope and Science will air on Tuesdays in October. In the Kansas City area, it’s on KCTV5 at 9:30 a.m. and in Topeka, it’s on WIBW at 9 a.m.

Monday, Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. CT is the next Morning Medical Update. Why make mammograms a chore when they can be a party? We meet a group of friends who turn their yearly breast exams into a girls road trip. Plus we learn when and why some women need more than a mammogram.

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