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Healthy breasts and ovaries removed over cancer fear | Healthy breasts and ovaries removed over cancer fear |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A woman who had her healthy breasts and ovaries removed because of a family history of cancer has spoken of her relief following the operation. | A woman who had her healthy breasts and ovaries removed because of a family history of cancer has spoken of her relief following the operation. |
Screening revealed Claire Whittaker, 37, from Honeybottom, in Berkshire, had an 85% chance of developing cancer. | Screening revealed Claire Whittaker, 37, from Honeybottom, in Berkshire, had an 85% chance of developing cancer. |
She said: "Suddenly it was so horrifying and my first instinct was to think of my children and realise the implications for them." | She said: "Suddenly it was so horrifying and my first instinct was to think of my children and realise the implications for them." |
Surgery at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford reduced the risk to about 2%. | |
Lisa Walker, head of cancer genetics for the Oxford region, said: "It is a difficult choice to make but I think most of our patients feel empowered by at least having that choice. | Lisa Walker, head of cancer genetics for the Oxford region, said: "It is a difficult choice to make but I think most of our patients feel empowered by at least having that choice. |
"Given their family histories, I think a lot of them would say that their mums, their aunties and their grandmothers never had these choices and simply had to cope with the cancers when they occurred." | "Given their family histories, I think a lot of them would say that their mums, their aunties and their grandmothers never had these choices and simply had to cope with the cancers when they occurred." |
'Euphoric' feeling | 'Euphoric' feeling |
According Dr Walker the referral rate in the Oxford region is increasing "out of all proportion", with approximately 50 to 70 referrals to the Oxford regional genetics centre a week. | According Dr Walker the referral rate in the Oxford region is increasing "out of all proportion", with approximately 50 to 70 referrals to the Oxford regional genetics centre a week. |
Genetic testing at the centre is for patients with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer and establishes the risks of developing the disease in the future. | Genetic testing at the centre is for patients with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer and establishes the risks of developing the disease in the future. |
In the general population about 10% of women will develop breast cancer, but with a gene alteration like Ms Whittaker's it is about eight times more likely. | In the general population about 10% of women will develop breast cancer, but with a gene alteration like Ms Whittaker's it is about eight times more likely. |
Ms Whittaker remains pleased with her decision. | Ms Whittaker remains pleased with her decision. |
"Nobody can explain that feeling, it is euphoric. | "Nobody can explain that feeling, it is euphoric. |
"That risk has gone, that lump has gone, that terrible fear that you hang on to as a heavy weight has suddenly gone and I feel incredibly lucky." | "That risk has gone, that lump has gone, that terrible fear that you hang on to as a heavy weight has suddenly gone and I feel incredibly lucky." |
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