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Women of Distinction

would say, well, you have breast cancer, this looking at a patient’s DNA. If we understand done. All that is required is a swab of the inside
is what your lifestyle is like, and these are the that, then we can help their doctor choose of your cheek and answering some pertinent
changes in your DNA because of your cancer. the right medication the first time, so they questions. The sample is then sent to the lab
So how can we treat your cancer specifically?” are not coming out of surgery hoping their where they can examine your DNA and they
Ashley explained to me that we all have medication works, they will have a much provide you with a score which will help deter-
different changes in our DNA, some are better chance that it will work.” mine the best way you should be treated for
harmful, most are not, but changes in DNA This is an extremely important matter pain. It also helps patients who require opioids
influence everything from how we feel pain, when you see the current opioid addiction obtain them if this is the only medication that
to how we react to medication. We inherit numbers in our country. It is a difficult topic will truly help relieve their pain.”
half of our genes from our mother and half because many people take opioids, and they Some insurances are now covering this
from our father, and along the way we also don't become addicted. So why is it then that test, so check with your insurer beforehand.
inherit mutations. Ashley added, “Sun, for others become addicted? However, when you consider what this test
instance, can cause changes in your DNA can prevent, it is well worth the cost since the
that can lead to skin cancer. So, in addition to knowledge obtained helps in decreasing the
what we inherit, we are also faced with out- risk of side effects and decreasing the risk of
side influences. Sometimes your body makes addiction in patients.
mistakes in the process of making new cells. “Unfortunately, doctors are sometimes
When that cell is being copied, it can make dismissive of pain. They think that the patient
a mistake. Usually the body is really good at is exaggerating, but more times than not, this
catching those mistakes and correcting them, is not the case. Patient advocacy groups have
but sometimes it isn't caught. We see that a really helped in this regard. Our tests provide
lot with cancer, but some of these inherited objective information. Pain is so hard to de-
mutations are really important to know.” scribe from one person to another; this test
This is the focus of the company that looks at your DNA and can give you and your
Ashley now works with, Mycroft Bioanalytics. physician specific information on your pain
“At Mycroft we focus on pain. We look at how sensitivity. This would let them know that
your DNA and other parts of your life, relate you are somebody who might need a longer
to the way you feel pain. We study ethnicity, course of pain medications. We're trying to
gender, and even stress levels, to determine really get at the scientific basis of pain and
how those factors influence the way in there are some fantastic researchers doing
which you feel pain, and how your pain can great scientific research in this field.”
be treated, as well as knowing your risk of Ashley is dedicated to helping those who
substance use disorders prior to prescribing suffer with pain. It is her passion and her goal
you a medication.” in life to do so. Ashley’s other passion in life
What Ashley and her team have deter- is her family. Ashley and her husband Scott
mined is that the simple procedure they use have been married for over 6 1/2 years and
in hospitals and emergency rooms of asking a they have two adorable little girls, a four-
patient what their pain level is (between 1-10) year-old named Betty, and a one-and-a-half-
isn’t sufficient to understand your pain. “Pain What Ashley’s company does is they offer year-old named Ada Grace. Scott works in the
is the number one reason people see doctors. a profile where they can look at an individu- Tech field and is a great source of encourage-
And it is the only condition that every single al’s DNA and they also look at some factors ment to Ashley. Her current position allows
medical specialty treats. So, if a patient comes that aren't genetic, like personal and family her to work part of the time from home, so
into an ER and says, ‘Hey, I'm in pain,’ the stan- history of drug use, age, and mental health she is there to experience her girls’ special
dard of care would normally be to prescribe a condition. They take all of that information moments. This is a couple that is definitely
pain pill and send the patient on their way. As and combine it. With this information they made for each other. “For a long time, we
we have learned over time, individuals experi- can then give the patient and their doctor didn't have a TV, but we had a big white-
ence pain differently. We all know somebody a score that shows their risk of developing board. During my first maternity leave Scott
who stubs their toe and is rolling on the floor opioid use disorder. This means that prior to helped me in my quest to learn code and I
in pain, which will keep them out of work for having a doctor prescribe a medication, the helped him learn about genomic science.”
a week. On the other hand, we know there patient has a better indication of whether Ashley has come a long way from that
are people who get kicked by a horse and will or not they are a person at high risk for little girl who wanted to go to Johns Hopkins,
say ‘wow, that was really unpleasant’ and walk addiction and they can then prescribe a she is at the top of her field and well respect-
around on a broken leg.” medication that is not an opioid. This profile ed for her work in genomics. There is certain-
However, the pain is real to both types of helps to ensure that the individual’s pain is ly something to be said for knowing what
individuals. We know that people feel pain properly managed, while allowing physicians you want out of life and not being afraid to
differently and we also know that people to do their job and care for their patients in go out and get it. We applaud you, Ashley!
respond to medication differently, some the most appropriate manner.
people will say, Advil ® works really well for For those of us who want to protect our- For more information go to:
me, but Tylenol ® doesn't. The reason for this selves from medications that may be harmful ashleybrenton.com
is because of how their body breaks down or addictive ask your physician to order this mycroftbioanalytics.com
that medication and then how their body test through Mycroft Bioanalytics. “There is no
responds to it. We understand this better by pain or discomfort involved in having this test

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