Whoa.
Her mom died of breast cancer. She had the genetic test done found out she had BRCA1 and her doctors told her she had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer so she decided to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She says her risk is down to 5% now.
I don't know what I would do in that situation. Possibly the same thing? What would you do?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?_r=1&
clementine / 780 posts
Assuming I could afford it, I would do the same. Im glad she shared her story!
coconut / 8305 posts
Wow that's awesome! I don't know if I could take such extreme preventative measures if we were still wanting more children BUT if not, if we were done (even though unexpected pregnancy could happen) I would totally do it! I've always said, and DH knows, that IF I were diagnosed I would much rather have surgery than chemo and likely wouldn't accept treatments.
clementine / 948 posts
Wow - I'm amazed she was able to keep this on the DL for months when she is one of the most famous people in the world. That's great.
If there is a strong family history, especially with younger women in the family, many insurance companies will cover the test for BRCA. But the question is - what do you do with that info once you know you are positive. I definitely agree with her decision and wouldn't be surprised if she had a hysterectomy soon too. I would. It's much harder to screen for ovarian cancer than breast.
coconut / 8305 posts
@ChitownRo: It sounded like she will since she "started with" the mastectomies.
GOLD / pear / 1845 posts
If I had an 87% chance, I think I would do it. Especially if my mom had passed away so young!
clementine / 948 posts
@runsyellowlites: yah, good decision. she luckily has had her kids... it's hard when single women in their 20s are diagnosed BRCA positive. What's the answer then?
pomelo / 5628 posts
I have the BRCA2 mutation and won't do a prophylactic double mastectomy. I get screened with breast MRI every year and feel that early detection is the best course of action.
Also BRCA2 is associated with higher risk of ovarian cancer. I might consider having my ovaries removed now that I am done having children since its much harder to detect ovarian cancer, but I really don't know.
coconut / 8234 posts
@ChitownRo: Yeah, I don't know how this remained out of the press for so long. I'm glad she was able to be the one to break the news.
@runsyellowlites: Yeah, I think a hysterectomy is definitely next.
I know my insurance company didn't feel I had enough of a family history to justify the cost of the test and the doctor kept asking me if there were anymore people to add to the list. It was eventually covered though.
grapefruit / 4056 posts
I think that if I were in her shoes (87% chance of breast cancer, and a mother that died fairly young), I would definitely have a prophylactic mastectomy, and hysterectomy. I would rather ensure my kids have me around for a long time, and have a smaller family, than risk my kids having to grow up without their mom.
pomegranate / 3503 posts
Wow. with a percentage that high, I would probably get the procedure done as well. I hope I would have the courage to make that decision.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
Yeah, if I had a family history and a percentage that high, I would do it as well.
pear / 1743 posts
My mother had inflammatory breast cancer but was not positive for BRCA so I will not be having a prophylactic mastectomy. I would have considered getting tested and having the surgery after having children if that had been the case.
I am glad she has raised awareness about the choices women have when dealing with the health of their breasts!
bananas / 9973 posts
Just saw that and it's a shocker! I think if you have such a high risk, it's definitely something to contemplate.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
With such a high risk I would totally, given I could afford it
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 51 and was tested for the BRCA gene. She didn't have it. If she did, I'd seriously consider getting tested/getting the surgery if necessary. (She has been cancer free for almost 5 years now)
pineapple / 12802 posts
I think what she did was smart! Why risk the numbers if you can eliminate them completely?
The only part I had a problem with is that she said that everyone should do this if they have a high risk. Well, that is all fine and dandy for a women to say when she makes 10 times (or more!) what any average person makes. As if the average person WANTS to take the risk!
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
I don't know. It's easy to say I would in that situation, but I don't think having a double masectomy would be easy to handle, psychologically. I'd probably do yearly screenings and reassess the masectomy if it found something. With the ovaries, I'm also not sure. Early menopause would not be fun and I don't like the idea of having to take hormone replacement. Certainly not an easy decision.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I think if I were in her situation I would do the same thing. It's not like she has a small family now, so I'm guessing she decided to do it now after deciding the biological side of her family, at least, was complete. I usually get sort of annoyed by her, in general, but I think it's pretty great of her to come out with something so personal to raise awareness of it.
@.twist.: I did not read the article, only saw snippets on the news, but I thought she was saying that all women should be aware of the option, not that everyone should do it? Although it's true-- I'm doubtful most insurance plans would cover the inital surgery, much less a good cosmetic surgeon to do the reconstructive surgery.
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
I really admire her for talking so frankly about her decision and also talking about how expensive the screenings can be. I hope that her activism along with others can change that someday. If it were me, I would have done the same thing if I could afford it.
pineapple / 12802 posts
@Foodnerd81: Oh, I am not sure. I didn't read the article. I just heard it on the news on the radio this morning! haha. Probably should have read into it more but that's what they said on the radio.
clementine / 780 posts
I think its a battle but apparently insurance will pay for it plus reconstruction if you have considerable risk, which I think is pretty great. It ties into the womens health and cancer legislation from 1998.
squash / 13199 posts
@mrsjazz: How many people in your family have to have it for you to get the test? What does the test involve?
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
I really admire her for discussing this so openly and eloquently. I had the testing done a couple years ago (I think for brca 2...I can never remember!) and I was negative, but I'm still starting mammograms early because of my family history.
@.twist.: she acknowledges that it's expensive in the article--I read it as her saying that this is something that's important and needs to be made more accessible so it can help anyone regardless of income. She writes, "It has got to be a priority to ensure that more women can access gene testing and lifesaving preventive treatment, whatever their means and background, wherever they live. The cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, at more than $3,000 in the United States, remains an obstacle for many women."
pineapple / 12802 posts
@nana87: haha thank you. I agree with it needing to be more accessible. Next time I won't listen to radio men! 
coconut / 8234 posts
@Mrsbells: It's a blood test.
This site is the one that was recommended to me by my doctor for more info about BRCA1 and BRCA2 and who is at risk, etc: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA\
This is from the website (and was basically what my insurance wanted).
The likelihood of a harmful mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 is increased with certain familial patterns of cancer. These patterns include the following (15):
For women who are not of Ashkenazi Jewish descent:
two first-degree relatives (mother, daughter, or sister) diagnosed with breast cancer, one of whom was diagnosed at age 50 or younger;
three or more first-degree or second-degree (grandmother or aunt) relatives diagnosed with breast cancer regardless of their age at diagnosis;
a combination of first- and second-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer and ovarian cancer (one cancer type per person);
a first-degree relative with cancer diagnosed in both breasts (bilateral breast cancer);
a combination of two or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer regardless of age at diagnosis;
a first- or second-degree relative diagnosed with both breast and ovarian cancer regardless of age at diagnosis; and
breast cancer diagnosed in a male relative.
watermelon / 14206 posts
I think it's great, and good for her.
I've seen threads elsewhere (on FB) scoffing her for going public with it, but I think it's good. People relate to celebrities, and I know another woman out there with the same situation would look to her and know she wasn't alone in the world.
Also, Angelina is probably looking for the same thing. You can't find people in your situation until you put yourself out there and let people know what you're going through.
grapefruit / 4582 posts
As a breast cancer survivor myself, if I had been in her shoes, I would have done the same thing. I have been tested for the gene and do not have it but if I had (after my double mastectomy) I would have had a child and then removed my ovaries.
A preventative surgery like hers can save more of the original breast tissue and I think it would make me feel " in control", rather than the cancer dictating my medical options. Go her.
pomelo / 5524 posts
Good for her...and good for her for keeping it so on the DL.
If I were in her situation, I'm not sure what I would do. I would certainly want to be around for LO, but it would be a hard decision to make. Not to mention, one I'm not sure we'd be able to afford!
eggplant / 11824 posts
I say good for her for getting it out there; especially since she is such a sex symbol to so many.
My mom had breast cancer fairly young (age 50), and I'd like to have the BRCA tests done. If I had odds like Angelina's, I would most certainly want to have a double mastectomy. Having seen what radiation and chemo does (physically and emotionally), I would like to avoid those if possible. As a "normal" person though, one of my biggest concerns would of course be whether or not insurance would cover the reconstructive surgery or not!!
pomelo / 5257 posts
I think her mom actually died of ovarian cancer, so I wonder if she might have a hysterectomy when she's done having kids (don't know if they are or not yet). I think it's great that she's speaking out about this -- she obviously didn't have to, since everyone had no idea, so I think it's a very admirable thing that she's trying to help other women.
coconut / 8234 posts
@MrsSCB: You're right. Her mom died of ovarian cancer, not breast cancer. Oops. I think she will probably have her ovaries removed shortly, but was probably doing her breasts first because the risk was higher.
pomelo / 5257 posts
@mrsjazz: Yeah, 87 percent is pretty scary high, I probably would have done the same thing. The only unfortunate thing about all this is if your insurance doesn't cover the blood test for the BRCA gene (or you don't have insurance) it can be very expensive. I hope this highlights the importance of the test so it can hopefully become less pricey!
pomelo / 5628 posts
For the first test, the person is screened for all mutations. This is the $3000 test I believe. Subsequent tests for other family members check only for the specific mutation found the in the original family member. I think that test is only $300. Since the mutation is rare, it's not recommended to be tested unless you have breast cancer before age 50, multiple family members with breast cancer, or if you are a male with breast cancer.
My mom was originally tested for everything. Then my aunt, sister and I were tested for her specific mutation and all 3 of us are positive.
pear / 1799 posts
I've always said I would do the same thing in that situation. What a graceful way to handle such a scary (let alone life threatening) disease. I think what she did has started a lot of conversations, and anything to bring awareness to detection is amazing. Kudos to her.
papaya / 10473 posts
I really admire her for speaking out about it! I hope this starts a lot of conversation among women about taking charge of their health.
pineapple / 12566 posts
I think it is great that she raised awareness.
A friend of mine went through the same procedure a few years ago when she was in her late 20s. Her mother had already had breast cancer and a double mastectomy. My friend tested positive for the breast cancer gene and decided to act proactively. It was an extremely difficult and emotional decision for her, but now, a few years later, she is very happy with her decision.
coconut / 8430 posts
I'm not really a fan of hers but I think its amazing that she's decided to come out and talk about such a difficult subject in order to help other women.
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 1 | 0 |
| Posts | 0 | 1 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
46 comments