Genetic testing helped breast cancer survivor
When Maureen Gianni, a breast cancer survivor, learned that her younger sister had also been diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided to have her remaining breast removed as a precaution.
“When your life is in danger, you just do what you’ve got to do,” said Gianni, 63, of Danbury.
She would have also had her ovaries removed, but the results of a genetic test prevented her from doing so.
Gianni was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. She had one breast surgically removed and had chemotherapy treatments, she said.
Her sister Donna was diagnosed with breast cancer a year later, Gianni said. About a year after that, the two of them and their sister Marilou had genetic testing done as part of a University of Pittsburgh study, Gianni said.
Marilou had not been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer in the United States is-
The most common cancer in women, no matter your race or ethnicity.
The most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women.
The second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.1
In 2007 (the most recent year numbers are available) -
202,964 women were diagnosed with breast cancer.
40,598 women died from breast cancer.
The three took the test to see if they had the breast and ovarian cancer causing genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Gianni said she wasn’t worried she might have either of the genes because she had already been diagnosed with cancer.
“The shoe’s already dropped,” she said. “The initial diagnosis is the hardest.”
However, none of the sisters tested positive for the genes, Gianni said.
Ovarian cancer is often worse than breast cancer, because it is hard to detect, said Shannon Morrill-Cornelius, a genetic counselor at Danbury Hospital. It is often discovered in stage three or four, when there is less chance of survival, she said.
Facts about breast cancer
The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 8
This means that 1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their life – but of course it also means that 7 out of 8 women won’t develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Estimated risk of developing breast cancer according to age
Risk up to age 29, 1 in 2,000.
Risk up to age 39, 1 in 215.
Risk up to age 49, 1 in 50.
Risk up to age 59, 1 in 22.
Risk up to age 69, 1 in 13.
Lifetime risk, 1 in 8.
Both women and men get breast cancer
Just over 49,000 women and 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK.
Older people are more likely to get breast cancer than younger people
Age is the strongest risk factor for developing breast cancer – the older the person, the higher the risk. Around 81 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.
Most cases of breast cancer don’t run in the family
Most cases of breast cancer happen by chance. Less than 10 per cent of breast cancers run in families. Because breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 50,000 people diagnosed each year, having someone in your family doesn’t necessarily mean your own risk is increased. For most people, having a relative with breast cancer does not increase their risk of developing the disease.
A mammogram helps detect breast cancer
A mammogram – a breast x-ray – is used to screen for and detect cancer and other breast conditions early so they can be treated as soon as possible. Because breast cancer is more common in women who are over the age of 50, women aged 50 to 70 are invited for routine breast screening every three years.
Breast cancer can affect women, regardless of the size of their breasts
Breast cancer can affect women with small breasts, medium breasts, large breasts – any size breasts. Breast size is irrelevant.
Finding a lump in your breast doesn’t mean you have breast cancer
There are several benign (not cancer) conditions that can occur in the breast at any age that may cause a lump, but any new lump should always be assessed by a doctor. Also many women will experience lumpy breasts just before their period. This is a normal response to changing hormones and often the lump or lumpiness disappears after the period. However if this doesn’t go away, it’s important to get it checked out by a doctor. Don’t be afraid that you’re wasting her/his time.
“Ovarian cancer is what keeps us up at night,” Morrill-Cornelius said.
About half of Morrill-Cornelius’s clients have already had cancer. Gianni is not the type of client she would counsel, because she does not have the cancer genes.
However, Gianni follows up with her oncologist and goes for regular colonoscopies.
Gianni lives with David Deep, her husband of 17 years. She has two adult sons. She works as a community outreach coordinator for Ann’s Place, The Home of I Can, an organization in Danbury that provides support services to cancer patients and their families.
After Gianni had her second breast removed, she decided to have reconstructive breast surgery.
“I’m thrilled that I did,” she said.
She got to pick the size of her new breasts, and she doesn’t have to wear a bra.
“Everything else will sag, but these won’t,” Gianni said.
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Contact Stacy Davis at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 203-731-3331