Let’s say …
You have a test done, and you find out you have a certain genetic mutation that gives you an 87% chance of developing breast cancer and a 44% chance of ovarian cancer (and likely in that order). But at this time, you don’t HAVE cancer.
Although, you’ve watched your grandmother battle cancer, and your mother battle both breast and ovarian, dying of the latter. In her 50’s.
You are a woman in your 30’s, and you aren’t married and you don’t have children.
And the doctor’s options? You have have pre-emptive chemo, or you can have your breasts removed, and your ovaries removed.
It’s exactly the choice a woman in the book “Pretty Is What Changes” had to make a few years ago.
When I learned in my adoption records that both sides of my biological family have uterine cancer (both sides!), I have always wondered what I was supposed to do in order to prevent such a thing. Normally uterine cancer appears in menopause.
But, I have always said that I have no problem at on-set of menopause having it all taken out to avoid any sort of uterine cancer. I thought it sounded drastic, but after reading this book?
And that’s exactly the choice this author made, but in regards to her breasts. She had them removed, plastic surgery done, and you wouldn’t know the difference. And later, after she’s had a child, she’ll have her ovaries removed, as well.
What would you do?
June 24th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I’d have my breasts removed if it was certain that it would prolong my life. I say that now, because I’m not faced it with it, but man what a choice to have to make.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:23 am
I’d probably do it. I’m not at all afraid of dying but I’m in no hurry to get there, either. Breasts can be re-built without (mammary) breast tissue and adoption works just fine regardless of the state of your reproductive organs, or lack of them.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Take ‘em all.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I have been tested for the BRCA -1 & BRCA - 2 and was negative for both.
After my Mom had her hysterctomy the pathology results showed beginning stages of uterine cancer. She never had any recurrence anywhere else.
Seeing as both types of cancer have occured on both sides of my family tree, I wouldn’t do anything preventative, even tho I took the above tests ‘ just to see’.
Even with odds, nothing is a definite until it happens. That’s my take, at least.
And yes…would love to borrow this book!
June 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I’d have them removed. I’d rather be pre-emptive than go thru chemo and radiation and then perhaps end up having to have them removed anyway.
I think I would want to have a good-bye party for them first though. Shirts optional. (It would answer the question of “what shirt do I wear?”) Pants would be a requirement though.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Wow, take about a Women’s Choice issue. If I had breasts (and who wouldn’t want them to love and hold and squeeze and call ‘George’) and had that high of a percentage, then I’d opt to get rid of the damn things. As someone currently going through chemo.. it sucks!
June 24th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
What a choice to have to make but if I were faced with that choice, I’d like to think that I would have the surgery to remove the breasts. As pointed out earlier, those can be reconstructed. I’d wait for the ovaries/uterus until after I had kids but on the other hand, I might have all of it removed knowing that I would be passing on the possibility to a future daughter and wouldn’t want her to have to face the same tough choice.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I would have the breasts taken right away. As far as the ovaries, I’m not sure. I guess it would depend on how strong my desire for a Bio child would be. If it happened now to me, take it all and I’m only 36. I do have a child now, so I guess that makes my choice for the ovaries that much easier, but the breasts would go in a heart beat. Just think a new non saggy rack!!! LOL Sorry I have to try to find the bright side in this.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Yeah, I’d probably have them removed. My stepmother went through this after losing her 37-year-old daughter to breast cancer. When they found a lump, she didn’t even want to bother with a biopsy. “Take ‘em off!” she demanded.
I agree with F-chick, I’d have a goodbye part for them too. Body painting mandatory.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
[...] wanna talk about Women’s Choice Issues? Hot Doctor Wife poised this question to her readers about preemptive surgery to remove your breasts and/or ovaries if your risk [...]