Patricia White-Parks approaches life with both humor and honesty. The Waynesville, Ohio mother of three doesn't leave anything to chance. So two years ago when she learned she carried the gene mutation "BRCA1," which increases her risk for breast and ovarian cancer, she did something about it. She had a double mastectomy and hysterectomy. "It was an easy decision for me because every single woman on my mom's side of the family had breast cancer or ovarian cancer," said White-Parks. It's a choice that Edgwood resident Nancy Romer wishes she had been able to make. Nancy has been fighting ovarian cancer for seven years. "I went in for routine surgery and woke up with a hysterectomy and ovarian cancer," she said. Nancy lost her own mother, Judge Judy West, to breast cancer. Nancy didn't know she carried the cancer-causing gene until she had been diagnosed herself. "If I had known I was predisposed to this gene, after I had my daughter I would have probably gotten a hysterectomy, then discussed bilateral mastectomies," she told us. It's a decision that may sound radical, but Nancy insists it's a personal choice every woman should have. That's why she and her brother, James West, started the website checkyourgenes.org, hoping to make more people aware of genetic testing. "Knowing that you're at risk greatly increases your chance for a successful outcome," said James. "When we're testing what we're looking for is a mistake, a misspelling," explained genetic counselor Erin Miller. Miller is with the Hereditary Cancer Program at Children's Hospital. She says most people with breast cancer don't carry the gene mutations. "But for those who do, 5-10%, of all breast cancer diagnosis, their risk factors are much higher than the general population," said Miller. And that's exactly why Patricia took the test, found the gene and had the surgery. "I was afforded a wonderful opportunity to protect myself a little bit against the future," she said. Doctors at University Hospital removed her breast tissue, but then rebuilt the breasts with abdominal fat from Patricia's own body. She admits recovery wasn't easy. "You can't raise your arms, you can't stand upright for 3-4 weeks because your stomach muscles are so sore." There were more considerable things to deal with, too, like surgical menopause after the hysterectomy. And there are more intimate issues. "One of the side-effects that I was told about but not really prepared about was you lose all sensation in your breast. For good, you miss it. It doesn't come back." But she doesn't regret it the preventative surgery. In fact, Patricia and Nancy both hope their own children will get genetic test in the future. "I'm the kind of person who doesn't want to have to look down from heaven and see my family grow up without me," added Patricia. Genetic testing is not cheap. It costs about $3,100. Your insurance company may cover some of that, but usually only if another woman in your family has tested positive for the cancer genes. Check with your doctor as well as your insurance company to see what costs would be covered.
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