A positive test result provides information only about a person's risk of developing cancer. It cannot tell whether an individual will actually develop cancer or when. Not all women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation will develop breast or ovarian cancer. (National Cancer Institute)
With that in mind lets discuss our options. There are three possibilities to consider: surveillance, prophylactic surgery, and chemoprevention. Today we will discuss two of the three. Lets start out with survellance.
Very simply surveillance means cancer screening. Using standard methods that are already popular to look for and detect cancer. These include mammography, breast exams, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For ovarian cancer the methods include CA-125 antigen(a blood test), transvaginal ultrasound, and clinical exams. These are something you should discuss with your doctor if you believe you might be at a higher risk for breast or ovarian cancer. I know that not everyone reading this is ready to take the plunge and be tested for the genetic mutations tomorrow, but you must talk to your doctors. Your health care providers are not mind readers. If you do not tell them you think you are at risk, how will they ever know? The techniques above are much simpler and less costly than getting cancer.
FYI:
Mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 35. It is recommended that screening is started 10 years prior to this age for Katie and I. That would mean that we should have started "surveillance" at 25. Katie has been diagnosed at age 30, this means that Lexi, Katie's daughter, needs to start screening at 20.
Our next option to consider is prophylactic surgery. Whack em' off, and pull em' out. Ok, maybe that was a little crude. This means removing as much of the tissue in your body that is at risk for developing cancer as possible. Voluntarily removing healthy breast tissue, and your egg producting ovaries. Let me just say it for you, WOW!!! Who as a woman really wants to remove the two items that define us most as a WOMAN?
I guess we should take a moment and look at this from Katie's perspective. After diving into the obsession of genetic testing myself, I had successfully convinced Katie to also be tested. She was patiently waiting for my results to come back when her doctor sent her for a mammogram. Two weeks later she still had not been tested, but she had cancer. Katie was not given any options. Her cancer miniscule as it was had started the process of becoming invasive. Meaning it was becoming one bad dude, that would soon be looking for its next place to invade. On February 10, Katie went into surgery to have a double mastectomy (both breasts removed), lymph nodes from under her arm extracted, and expanders installed to start her reconstruction process. Later on this week, Katie will also be meeting with a Gynecological Oncologist about having her ovaries removed.
So here is the question once again - "Who as a woman really wants to remove the two items that define us most as a WOMAN?" Maybe just maybe the ones who don't think cancer is an option.
At this point in my life I have two beautiful children, and a wonderful husband. What more could I ask for? To be completely honest, I would like to ask for Longevity, and Life. More specifically a cancer free Life!!!
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I've been reading along and thinking about you a lot lately. I'm so glad you're back in Amarillo and while I may not understand what it's like to be at risk for breast cancer, I understand what it's like realize your future may not be as long or bright as you had planned. To know that your children may have to grow up without you. To feel the helplessness of running out of time. You're a strong woman and I'm blessed to have you as a friend. Let me know if you ever need ANYTHING!!
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