On Thursday, I had a follow-up with DHL. Have I mentioned how amazing he and his staff are?! So, I was feeling all strong and all while Richard and I were waiting in the waiting area, but did get nervous after we had been called back to the exam room. But, let's be honest, seeing that little table with the paper on it probably tends to make anyone a little nervous. After a bit, Jessica-nurse-extraordinaire came in to check on us and gave me a folder with lots of BRCA+ statistics. Then, a few minutes later, DHL came in. He sat down, and could probably see the look of fear on my face, as the first question he asked was "Julie, how do you feel about being here today?" My voice trembled and said I felt okay, but I was a little scared. Richard reached over and grabbed my hand to comfort me, and I felt much better.
In his calming, soothing, confident way, DHL went over the numbers.
- Up to a 50% chance of breast cancer by 50, and 87% chance of breast cancer by age 70 (normal rates are around the 10-12% range)
- Up to 60% chance of ovarian cancer by age 70 (normal rates are .8-2%)
While I knew these stats, hearing him say them were sobering and scary. We discussed options, which again I knew, but still scary to hear him say them. The best chance for reducing cancer risk were a hysterectomy and double mastectomy.
Now, I know some people reading this, might think it's a bit radical to follow through with these recommendations. And, that's okay. A post about what to say and not to say to someone BRCA+ soon to follow. The thing is, my mother was 8 years old when her mother died of ovarian cancer. Her mom was sick for years prior to that. Ovarian cancer robbed my mom of her mom (granted she did gain my Grandma Canote as her fairy step-mother ~ she was an amazing lady). My sister and I have determined we will not let that happen to our kids... And, thanks to modern medicine, we don't have to take that risk.
Once we talked about my results, Richard left and DHL did a quick exam to make sure things were as they should be and that a laparoscopic hysterectomy would be appropriate. Typically, he's quite gentle, although this time he seemed to be a little moreaggressive thorough. Of course, I might have been a little more scared/tense this time around too. He said everything appeared to be normal, so yay for that!
We discussed a few dates for the hysterectomy, but nothing is set in stone yet. I'll keep you posted. Just know that in the next few weeks and months if I ama raging bitch a bit sensitive, then there is actually a medical reason for it. Wondering how long I can use the "it's a medical condition" for an excuse...
After leaving DHL's office, we had to go to the lab for a quick blood test. I believe it is called a CA-125 and is supposed to indicate risk for ovarian cancer. DHL warned us this test isn't very accurate at all, but it was the best they had. That's the scary thing about ovarian cancer, it isn't easily detectable and by the time it is detectable, it is often in the late stages. I'm not overly concerned with these results, although perhaps I should be.
Update on Jill: She is going in next week for her hysterectomy. It will likely only require one night in the hospital and she should be back to mostly normal activities (no heavy lifting) in nearly a week. Just like most things in life, Jill is taking the plunge first, so she can fill me in on all the details. She's always been the rebel out of two of us.
Once we talked about my results, Richard left and DHL did a quick exam to make sure things were as they should be and that a laparoscopic hysterectomy would be appropriate. Typically, he's quite gentle, although this time he seemed to be a little more
We discussed a few dates for the hysterectomy, but nothing is set in stone yet. I'll keep you posted. Just know that in the next few weeks and months if I am
After leaving DHL's office, we had to go to the lab for a quick blood test. I believe it is called a CA-125 and is supposed to indicate risk for ovarian cancer. DHL warned us this test isn't very accurate at all, but it was the best they had. That's the scary thing about ovarian cancer, it isn't easily detectable and by the time it is detectable, it is often in the late stages. I'm not overly concerned with these results, although perhaps I should be.
Update on Jill: She is going in next week for her hysterectomy. It will likely only require one night in the hospital and she should be back to mostly normal activities (no heavy lifting) in nearly a week. Just like most things in life, Jill is taking the plunge first, so she can fill me in on all the details. She's always been the rebel out of two of us.
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