About 1 in 8 American women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime, second in prevalence only to all types of skin cancer and accounting for about 1 in 3 cancer diagnoses in the United States. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. workforce and, as such, the top driver of employers’ total oncology care costs.

“Given these facts, there’s a pressing need for more breast cancer screening and support,” said Margaux Currie, senior director of commercial medical clinical solutions and strategy at Cigna Healthcare. Currie, who was diagnosed with breast cancer one year ago, leads the organization’s Medical Clinical & Wellness Solutions including the Pathwell Specialty benefit, which manages a national network of high-quality care centers where Cigna Healthcare customers can receive specialty medication infusions.

Currie’s experience with breast cancer began when she discovered a bump on her upper chest. “It was a Saturday I will never forget,” she said. “I remember showing it immediately to my husband. His immediate reaction was, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it. That’s not even on your breast, it’s on your chest.’”

The next evening at dinner with her in-laws, Currie told them about the bump. Her mother-in-law gave her a stern look and told her to get it checked immediately. “Everyone needs a person like that in their lives to give them that look and push them to get a screening,” Currie said. “I scheduled an appointment with my doctor right away. Otherwise, I might have ignored it.”

Currie learned she had stage 3 breast cancer, with a large tumor in her left breast. The bump she had felt was an outgrowth of that tumor, which had spread into her lymph nodes. She immediately started chemotherapy and eventually underwent a double mastectomy and radiation treatment, and will need to be on maintenance therapy for 10 years.

Pictured above: Margaux Currie awaiting biopsy results as part of her breast cancer treatment journey.

“I always assumed this was something I never had to worry about,” Currie said. She had no family history of breast cancer and had tested negative for the BRCA gene variants, which indicate increased risk. Like Currie, 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have these risk factors, which underscores the importance of regular mammograms and other screenings. When breast cancer is found in its earliest stages, patients have a 99% survival rate.

A focused effort to drive early detection

Cigna Healthcare emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer and recommends mammograms and other appropriate screenings at least every other year for women starting at age 40 and continuing to age 74. “Breast cancer is highly treatable, but the key is finding it early,” Currie said.

Cigna Healthcare is engaged in initiatives to raise breast cancer awareness among its clients and customers and encourage regular screenings. For example, through an arrangement with Evernorth, some customers of Cigna Pharmacy may receive mammogram reminders on the top of their prescription bottles in October and November, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Cigna Healthcare is also partnering with the Know Your Lemons Foundation to offer its award-winning breast cancer awareness app to approximately 12 million covered employees and eligible family members. The app provides information about the 12 symptoms of breast cancer, self-exams, and what to expect during screenings. “The use of lemons is a compelling and effective way to educate men and women across cultures on breast health, signs of breast cancer, and actions to take if they find a symptom,” Currie said.

Cigna Healthcare is partnering with the Know Your Lemons Foundation to drive awareness and early detection of breast cancer.

Know Your Lemons supports men as well as women. “It teaches men how to talk to and support their moms, their sisters, their wives, their friends, all of the women in their life about the importance of getting screened,” she said. “It also helps men understand their own risk, because men can get breast cancer too.”

Through the Know Your Lemons partnership, Cigna Healthcare employer clients can take advantage of the Foundation’s webinars and e-mail communications, as well as a discount on specialized merchandise, to promote the app to their employees starting in October. In January, these clients will also have the option to implement the Know Your Lemons at Work program within their organizations.

In 2025, Cigna Healthcare will offer additional preventive benefit options for its employer clients. These include coverage for breast MRI screenings for women with extremely dense breast tissue and regular mammograms for women starting at age 30, as diagnoses of breast cancer among women under 40 are rising. Cigna Healthcare will also launch an oncology preventive care outreach service to help customers identified as being due for mammograms and help them schedule appointments.

Personalized treatment with dedicated nurse advisors

Currie noted that many managed care programs take a one-size-fits-all approach to breast cancer care. “That doesn’t work for these women because each will be going through a unique breast cancer treatment journey,” she said. “Each cancer type presents unique challenges, often with different drugs prescribed that result in different side effects. It’s important to take a curated approach that understands what the customer is going through and offers specific resources available to help”.

Cigna Healthcare takes a personalized approach, connecting patients to an oncology-specific personal nurse advisor. “The advisor is a qualified oncology nurse who is specially trained in supporting breast cancer patients,” she said. The nurse advisors share advice and strategies for coping with the unpleasant aspects of treatment, drawing from their experience in assisting other breast cancer survivors.

For example, the nurse advisors can help patients reduce the risk of side effects of potent chemotherapy medications. Patients being treated with Adriamycin learn they should suck on ice during treatments to prevent mouth sores, and patients undergoing Taxol infusions are counseled to wear mittens and booties to minimize the risk of developing neuropathy in their hands and feet.

“These nurses understand the issues women with breast cancer face, such as hair loss, infertility, early menopause, and preparing for mastectomies,” said Dr. Jeffrey Langsam, national director of oncology for Cigna Healthcare. “The nurse advisors guide patients from start to finish, helping them choose the best care options and offer survivor-curated ‘tips and tricks’ throughout treatment.”

Dr. Langsam emphasized that targeted support for breast cancer is unique in the health care industry and aligns with Cigna Healthcare’s comprehensive oncology solution. This approach provides holistic assistance, addressing a customer’s medical, pharmaceutical, and behavioral needs throughout their cancer treatment.

Currie offers her own advice for people who are newly diagnosed. “Breast cancer treatment can be overwhelming, but remember you’re not alone,” she said. “Now is the time to let your friends, your family, your neighbors, and your community support you. Also seek support from a behavioral specialist. Having breast cancer is massively challenging, and it can be as much a mental challenge as it is a physical challenge to undergo treatment. You’ve got this.”