I received $150 from AstraZeneca, and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience. This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/AstraZeneca.
Did you know that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month? Have you or has someone you know been diagnosed with ovarian cancer? Did you/they get tested for the BRCA gene?
I, unfortunately, am lucky enough to have both ovarian cancer and breast cancer in my family. My aunt Beulah was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was in middle school. I remember it vividly. She literally looked like she was 9 months pregnant, because the tumor she had was creating a green goo that was causing her to balloon up. It is funny the things that you remember. At that time, Beulah was given 9 months to live. However, she showed the doctors how very wrong they could be. She lived another 15 years! Unfortunately, she eventually succumbed to her ovarian cancer after I graduated from college. My aunt was a fighter.
I also am lucky enough to have an aunt with breast cancer on that same side of the family. She, unfortunately, wasn’t able to fight as long as her sister. My aunt Kay died when Will turned 1. (He’s 8 now.).
I can fully admit that this family history does scare me. However, it has been found that family history and age are poor predictors of BRCA status in ovarian cancer patients. Did you know that almost half (47%) of BRCA-positive ovarian cancer patients have no significant family history of ovarian or breast cancer? I have not been tested for the BRCA gene, because my insurance will not cover the test. For those who don’t know, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes involved with cell growth, cell division, and cell repair. Although they are most commonly associated with BReast CAncer, approximately 15% of women with ovarian cancer also have BRCA gene mutations.
BRCA status in ovarian cancer affects treatment outcomes, and there are treatment options available specifically for women with BRCA mutation. Personalized, or precision, medicine tailors treatment to a patient’s genetic profile, and with cancer it means doctors can target the specific mutations that they know drive a disease. This helps patients determine the right treatment options for them. For this reason, it is important for women with ovarian cancer to receive genetic testing so that they can plan with their doctor an individual treatment plan that is optimized for their specific cancer!
How easy is to do a BRCA test? Super easy! A blood or saliva sample can be taken at your physician’s office or at a local lab. In the United States, results are usually available in 2 to 3 weeks!
Us woman need to be talking about ovarian cancer and the importance of BRCA testing.
We need to tell our stories and life one another up.
I have never met anyone IRL who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but I imagine it must be devastating!
I’m sorry for your losses. Cancer is a terrible thing. I need to get checkout again. I haven’t done this in two years. Thanks for reminder.
I hate all cancer and am so hopeful that one day there will be a cure. My aunt is a breast cancer survivor. When it touches someone you love, you tend to look at cancer differently. So sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry for the devastation that cancer has caused your family. I think its so important to be proactive when you know it runs in the family.
My grandma lost her breast back in the 60’s. We’re very aware here and always get our mammograms.
Cancer is such a scary disease. It is awful!! I am so sorry for your loss. It is great that you are bring awareness for this!
My Nana was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was a baby, 30 years ago. Thanks to a gifted doctor, she is still healthy and smart as a whip at 93 years young!
It definitely sounds like a good idea to get tested. If there’s any chance of preventing such an awful disease, it’s worth it.
I have definitely been affected by breast cancer many times in my life. But never ovarian. But I do know that it does affect a lot of people!
I don’t know anyone personally who has had ovarian cancer. I hope and pray that each of the women in my life never has to go through something like this.
Any type of cancer is just devastating. Awareness and early detection can help any of us women not to go though this.
My Grandma passed away from ovarian cancer when my Daddy was sixteen… I haven’t gone through the tests yet but it is very encouraging to know that 47% of BRCA-positive ovarian cancer patients have no significant family history! I know that’s not anywhere near a guarantee but it does make me feel a bit better before I do the tests.
I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my father and my aunt to cancer and it still pains me to think about how they struggled with the disease. Thank you for this post. It is a reminder for me to have myself checked often.
Your aunt Beulah sounds like an amazing woman. I will say, ovarian cancer terrifies me. I’ve always heard it is hard to diagnosis. Great info you’ve shared here!
Learn your symptoms and be active. Do all necessary tests and be open to your doctor. Hope this article will bring awareness
I’m sorry about your losses. I lost an aunt, too, because of breast cancer. Listening to your body and having regular check ups are very important.
I’ve never thought this before, now this makes sense. Thanks for sharing us about this.
This runs in my family. I have lost a lot of women on my moms side of the family due to this terrible disease.
My grandma actually died in her 80th year from ovarian cancer. It’s super scary, and I don’t wish it upon anyone.
I am so sorry to hear about you loss. I think the BRCA test is so important to get if there is a family history.
Please double check your insurance coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act, genetic testing should be covered for someone with a family history like yours. http://investor.myriad.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=745595
I am sorry you have had to deal with so much in your family due to cancer. I wish my insurance companies would pay for this test. Especially for people who have it in their family history.
My grandmother had multiple types of cancer, ovarian was one of them. She even battled vulva(vulvar) cancer. My grand father had just passed and when this one hit, she pretty much gave up. The pain was unbearable.
Technology has come so far in this area! I’m so sorry about your family, and I’m sure they would be proud that you are spreading the word about awareness.,
Cancer is an ugly word all around. I am thankful there is testing to catch it but often times it’s late when it’s caught. My mil had breast cancer.
I have not been affected by this nor do I know anyone who has however, my grandmother had uterine cancer!
Thank you so much for bringing awareness to this! We all need to help in bringing advocacy to women’s health!
Cancer sucks, period, all cancer. It seems like more and more loved are affected each year and its scary and sad. Education is key, thank you for spreading the word and sharing!
I don’t know anyone that has had ovarian cancer. However I know so many people that have had other cancers. My Mom is a breast cancer survivor so I am really worried about all things cancer.