Would you do it?

[i-need-a-martini]

Would you have a double mastectomy to reduce your risk of breast cancer? Angelina Jolie did after doctors told her she had an 87% chance of developing the disease.

It's a pretty drastic thing to do. I'm not sure I would do it though. But then again I don't have a family history like hers.

You?

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/my-medical-choice-20130514-2jjyu.html

[azureline**]

As I said previously my middle daughter was given a 95% chance of having BC, her 2 sisters have not attended the clinic to see but assume they will be the same, they all have regular check ups..... youngest just asked me where do they draw the line, they have family history of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, leukemia, ovarian cancer and Parkinson's and that is only parents/grandparents.

[bright.ton42]

Az isn't it that some cancers are considered to be more genetic than others?

I'm not sure but that's what I thought.  

[freddie*rooster]

Bright.ton

My Father had bowel cancer, one Brother had bladder cancer 7 yrs ago which was SCC and he is now about to begin radiation because the SCC has spread to other parts of his body, another Brother had Rhabdomyosarcoma,  I have had recent breast cancer.

[aspie*mum]

Regular checkups wont necessarily show ANYTHING.

My grandmother had a mammogram that according to her doctor showed "nothing".  She still felt something was wrong and 7 months later went back for a repeat - and she had breast cancer.  Had she waited another 2 years, she could have had a much worse outcome.

My friend's mother who died of ovarian cancer had regular checkups, including at the Jean Hailes centre.  And by the time anyone found anything, she had terminal ovarian cancer - despite going to a specialist women's health centre.

I believe it is a stupid decision NOT to have surgery when you have such a high risk of cancer.  Stupid and selfish.

Doctors do not always find things early, despite the best of intentions and regular checkups.

[i-need-a-martini]

Post 90 - Elizabeths-mum: that photo is exactly what I mean when I question if AJ's message could have had more punch.

In a boob obsessed age women feel they are defined by their breasts. Yet here is a gorgeous woman posing confidently without them and saying "it's OK that all you see are my scars".

That's a great photo.

[i-need-a-martini]

My friend's mother who died of ovarian cancer had regular checkups, including at the Jean Hailes centre.  And by the time anyone found anything, she had terminal ovarian cancer - despite going to a specialist women's health centre.

Whilst I understand it is the same gene, there is a HUGE difference between Ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

Whilst the testing (self and medical) can pick up breast cancer quite early, ovarian cancer usually show no symptoms until it is too late. The death rate for OC is horrific.

I would definitely have a hysterectomy for ovarian but I would hesitate at a mastectomy.

[aspie*mum]

martini - did you notice that my grandmother's breast cancer wasn't picked up on the mammogram the first time around?  Even though it was visible?  She too could be dead, had she not been insistent something was wrong.

Breast cancer is not ALWAYS picked up early - even with monitoring.  And in young women, even if it is, it can be recurrent - it's so aggressive!

A girl I went to high school with was dead from breast cancer by 20!  20 years old - this was over 10 years ago.

I know too many people who have died from breast cancer OR could have died for me not to take it seriously.  I would not hesitate.  Not for one second.

and IMO the ONLY thing stopping people is vanity.  What is more important?  Your looks or living?

[aspie*mum]

If my daughter had the gene, I'd be encouraging her very forcefully to have a double mastectomy.  My daughter having a much higher chance of having a long and healthy life is much more important to me, than her having the boobs she was born with.  

Check out this link:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/05/16/08/34/gold-coast-sisters-speak-of-family-cancer-heartbreak

2 sisters had the surgery, 1 didn't and now she's terminal.

[azureline**]

so, my daughters should have a mastectomy, hysterectomy, heart liver and lung transplant?,

As my 31 yo said, where do you stop?

Regular testing of the known factors is all they can do and while it will not pick up every cancer cell, it is less likely it will be missed.

Mine was found "accidently" no relevant history, no risk factors, no lump.......just a feeling in myself that something needed looking at.

[azureline**]

that girl has ovarian cancer. That was what prompted my daughter's comments