I received a HALO exam which came back negative, when actually I had breast cancer. Is this a common occurrence with the HALO test?

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DrAttai (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified) ) - 09 / 13 / 2011

1 vote(s) by murray
The HALO test is meant to be used as a risk assessment tool, not a cancer detection test - it primarily meant for women under the age of about 40 (in whom routine mammography is not performed). The idea is that if there are abnormal cells lining the milk ducts, they may be detected in the fluid obtained from the test. If there are abnormal cells, that generally signifies an increased risk of developing cancer, and additional testing (perhaps MRI) may be indicated.

When properly performed, as many as 50% of women will not produce fluid with the HALO test, and in young women, this is considered a "negative" result (no abnormality). However with the normal aging process, there can be atrophy of the milk ducts, so that in women over the age of 40-50, no fluid might be due to changes related to age, and not necessarily a negative result. In addition, the HALO test will probably not pick up abnormal cells even if a cancer is present if the tumor is in the outer aspects of the breast. Lobular cancer (as it is not growing initially in the milk ducts) also will not likely be picked up with the HALO test.

The HALO test is not for everyone and again it is important to stress that this test is not meant to be a screening test for breast cancer, and is not a substitute for clinical and self-examination as well as routine imaging such as mammogram (and ultrasound / MRI if indicated). However when used appropriately it can be helpful to provide some counseling to young women regarding their risk.

Gianpaolo61 (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified) ) - 09 / 13 / 2011

The automated "HALO" nipple aspiration fluid system is the new "PAP screening test for the breast". At this moment, I think that there are no sufficient data available regarding the efficacy of this new tool for the early detection of breast cancer
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member9444 (Survivor (2 - 5 years)) - 09 / 13 / 2011

I was 36 when I received the HALO - with a lump the size of a pea. I was told 'too young' for mammogram. At 37, the pea was now the size of a grape. At that point I finally got sent for a mammo. Strange, I had a feeling when I received the HALO results that they were wrong.
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