Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 33)

"I carry a 'faulty' gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer," she wrote in her New York Times op-ed, "My Medical Choice." "My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer." Q WHO SHOULD BE TESTED FOR BRCA1 AND BRCA2 MUTATIONS? Q WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GETTING TESTED? Women who have been diagnosed with early onset (premenopause) breast or ovarian cancer and those with multiple blood relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer should be tested, Biesecker says. Jolie's mother died of ovarian cancer at age 56 in 2007, and her aunt died of breast cancer at age 61 in 2013, making Jolie a prime candidate for testing. For women determined to be high risk by their healthcare provider, the test is considered preventive care and is covered under the Affordable Care Act- which means no out-of-pocket cost. For those who aren't high risk or aren't insured, the cost had been as high as $3,000-a point Jolie lamented in her article. "Thankfully, that cost has come down since the Supreme Court ruled that a gene can't be patented," Biesecker says. It is estimated that about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers are hereditary. A genetic counselor or a primary care physician can help you look at your family history and determine whether you should be tested. Undergoing genetic testing can be an emotional roller coaster, especially while you wait for results, but it's worth it, says Ora K. Gordon, MD, a cancer geneticist and the co-author of Positive Results: Making the Best Decisions When You're at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer. "If you already perceive yourself to be high risk, conﬁrmation can provide a sense of empowerment to change." If your results are negative, you may want to consider further testing. "BRCA1 and BRCA2 are not the only hereditary genes that can increase breast cancer risk," Gordon says. Genetic testing is also available for hereditary colon and related cancers, as well as other rare cancer syndromes, Biesecker adds. Since many of these cancers can be prevented, treated or circumvented if found early, testing positive allows you to seek out earlier, more frequent screenings, make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk or take more proactive measures-as Jolie did. "Almost universally, people are glad they know, whatever their results," Gordon adds. Q IF I TEST POSITIVE, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Some women opt for more regular and careful screening for early detection, "which may also include taking medications like tamoxifen and birth control pills to reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancer by as much as 50 percent," Gordon says. Others, like Jolie, choose to undergo surgery to remove the ovaries or breast tissue before cancer has a chance to develop. "Removing the ovaries can cut your risk of breast cancer in half and nearly eliminate your risk of ovarian cancer," Biesecker says. "I decided to ... minimize the risk as much I could," the actress wrote in her New York Times editorial. "I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy." Jolie also plans to have her ovaries removed in the future, she told People magazine. "Preventive surgery is easier for women like Angelina who have found a partner and started a family already," Gordon says. "Having a strong support system is hugely beneﬁcial." "I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive," Jolie wrote in her editorial. "We knew this was the right thing to do for our family." FEARLESS AND FABULOUS Though she may have Hollywood magic in her bloodline, Jolie's dynamite combination of beauty, brains, strength and heart has earned her millions of fans. With her breast reconstruction complete and two new movies-Maleﬁcent to be released later this year and Salt 2, due out in 2015-Jolie is looking forward to a healthy future with her family. And she's proud of her decision to take that future into her own hands. "Life comes with many challenges," reads her New York Times editorial. "The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of." SPRI NG 2014 33

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Staying Ahead of Concussions
The Recovery Zone
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Ready, Set, Run!
You Can Change the World
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center