Dr. Wheeler's office is proud to offer HALO®. HALO is an office based breast cancer screening tool which is used as an adjunct to mammography.  It is provided for most women including those too young to qualify for mammography. HALO is a diagnostic system which is used in the office to help identify women who are shedding atypical cells which may be a precursor to breast cancer. The HALO procedure takes approximately 10 minutes to perform and requires no anesthesia. Breast cups similar to a breast pump are placed on each breast and with a gentle massaging and warming action, the HALO will apply a moderate suction to the nipple in an effort to extract any liquids or loose cells from the ducts of the breast. Most patients find this procedure quite tolerable and in some cases may elect to take an Advil before the procedure is performed.

The majority of breast cancers diagnosed in the United States come from the mammary ducts (breast ducts). By the time these cancers are picked up on mammography, most will have been existing for more than five years. Advances in new technologies in mammograms has helped improve the diagnosis and allow earlier detection. Many patients ask if there is something they can do in addition to mammography so that they may be able to help prevent the onset of breast cancer. HALO offers this possibility. Some women shed cells that are either atypical or hyperplastic in nature which may become ductal breast cancers. Approximately 2% of the general population will shed these cells.  If these cells ar found, they will be referred for more aggressive diagnostic regimens with hopes of earlier breast cancer detection and higher cure rates.

Currently there are two medications available that will reduce a woman's lifetime risk of developing breast cancer between 50 and 70%. These medications are Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (Evista). Patients who are identified by HALO as having atypical breast cells will be eligible to have regular MRIs of the breast which should be covered by most insurance companies. More importantly, many of these patients will chose to go on a chemo preventive drug such as Tamoxifen or Raloxifene. HALO is currently not covered by insurance companies and we offer this at a nominal charge of $90. Of the 50% of women who produce a discharge elicited during the procedure, the secretions will be sent to the pathologist and these services are normally covered by most insurance companies.