When Cigna Healthcare customer Laurie Des Jardine scheduled her annual mammogram in March 2024, it felt routine – just another health check to cross off the list. With dense breast tissue, follow-up imaging was nothing new, and she felt no reason to worry. But this time, the phone rang sooner than expected, signaling that something was off.

“I got the call back within three days,” she said. “I immediately thought, ‘This feels different than before.’”

Laurie had an ultrasound done and her doctor recommended biopsies, which uncovered three stage two cancerous tumors. One was fairly large, and it was located deep in her chest cavity – so deep that Laurie couldn’t even feel it.

Within three weeks, she started chemotherapy. The proposed treatment was going to be aggressive, but Laurie was driven to address this health challenge head on.

An unexpected offer of help

As someone who is always active, Laurie found chemotherapy especially challenging. She felt wiped out and lost her appetite. She was trying not to feel sorry for herself, but felt overwhelmed by everything that had happened.

During the second week of chemo, she received an unexpected phone call from Alex Romesberg, a registered nurse for Cigna Healthcare, who helps patients navigate the complex care that cancer treatment requires.

Alex’s call was well-timed. Laurie heard the kindness and compassion in Alex’s voice and immediately felt she had a friend in Alex.

“Alex truly wanted to help,” Laurie said. “If she didn’t know something, she found the answer and always followed through. I felt supported and cared for.”

Over the year that Alex and Laurie worked together, Alex connected Laurie to benefits and services that helped her to manage through some of her most difficult times. As an example, when Laurie said she didn’t have the energy to go to chemotherapy, Alex arranged hydration sessions for Laurie. Following her double mastectomy, Alex connected Laurie to vendors who provided her with sleeves to help manage the swelling in her arms and prosthetics.

Laurie is now in remission, and it means the world to her that Alex was there through her entire journey. “She’s a gem,” Laurie said.

Early detection of breast cancer leads to improved outcomes

Laurie’s positive outcome is largely due to the early detection of her cancer.  Research shows that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Eighty-five percent of those women have no family history of breast cancer. Additionally, breast cancer incidence is rising fastest in women under 50 (up 1.4% annually), with disproportionate increases among Hispanic (1.6%) and Asian American/Pacific Islander (2.6%) women. Given these sobering statistics, early detection is critical.

Data from Cigna Healthcare aligns to these national trends (based on 2024 service year):

• Twenty percent of Cigna Healthcare’s breast cancer population is women ages 40-49, and their average treatment cost is more than $15,000 – higher than older groups.
• Breast cancer is in this age group is growing in prevalence among Cigna Healthcare's population (up 4% year over year) and their average oncology costs also continue to rise (up 6% YOY), resulting in a 10% oncology cost trend for this population within the book of business.
• Breast cancer accounts for 1 in 5 cancer diagnoses (19%) and 1 in 5 dollars spent (20%) on oncology across Cigna Healthcare’s book of business.

New screening guidelines lowering the recommended age to 40 are expected to drive earlier detection and improve outcomes for this growing group.

“Early detection saves lives, and education is our most powerful tool,” said Margaux Currie, senior director of commercial medical clinical solutions and strategy at Cigna Healthcare. “We’re committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to take charge of their health. Regular screenings and timely information can make all the difference – not just in outcomes, but in giving people confidence and support at every step of their journey.”