Photo By Sheila deVera | Air Force Staff Sgt. Cecilia de la Rosa looks at mammogram X-rays to make sure the...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41, I knew our lives would change.
At the age of 16, I started performing monthly breast self-exams and at the age of 30, I started taking breast cancer seriously. I knew I had to talk to my primary care manager about having my first mammogram, because the National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends that immediate family members should consider getting a mammogram 10 years before the age of a close family member’s diagnosis.
Talking to my doctor about my family history, I decided to be more proactive about my health and asked if I could be tested for BRCA 1 and BRCA 2.
According to the National Cancer Institute, BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 are human genes that produce tumor-suppressor proteins. These proteins help repair damaged DNA and, therefore, play a role in ensuring the stability of a cell’s genetic material.
When either of these genes is mutated, or altered such that its protein product either is not made or does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly. As a result, cells are more likely to develop additional genetic alterations that can lead to cancer.
My doctor agreed, and I was referred to the 673rd Surgical Operations Squadron Women’s Health Clinic for the test.
I remembered once they drew blood, I started getting anxious. Anxious because I wanted to know the results right there and then, a result that indicated I would be OK.
But when the clinic informed me that they had to mail it to get the results, I could not sleep.
I remembered having a dream sitting in a sterilized room hooked up on machines and my family was looking in through the window.
As each week passed by, I started to get worried and constantly played all the "what if" scenarios in my head.
When I finally found out the results, I tried my best to listen to the nurse explaining what a positive result would mean to me and the steps I would need to take, but all I could think about is that I had opened Pandora’s Box.
Where do I go from here?
How am I going to tell this to my family?
Am I going to overcome this like my mom overcame breast and ovarian cancer?
I was lost.
When I slowly came to terms that I am a BRCA 2 mutation carrier and have a higher percentage for developing both cancers, I started to put things in motion. I refused to let this dictate my life and tried to further educate myself about breast and ovarian cancer.
Luckily, I had wonderful medical team members who provided me options. Since then, I have been required to have a biannual breast exam and ovarian screening once a year with my gynecologist and breast surgeon.
A case manager has also been assigned to me to assist me every step of the way and to discuss screening and management options.
Although this is an ongoing process for me, I have full confidence that I have been educated and have all the resources available for me, so I know what my next step will be.
When the time comes if I do decide to take the preventative mastectomy or surgery, I know I will have the whole medical team helping me out.
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2015 19:58 |
| Story ID: | 179069 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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