{"id":4782,"date":"2016-05-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/2016\/05\/11\/patient-gives-up-ovaries-after-genetic-testing-shows-cancer-risk\/"},"modified":"2021-08-03T09:36:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T15:36:06","slug":"patient-gives-up-ovaries-after-genetic-testing-shows-cancer-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/patient-gives-up-ovaries-after-genetic-testing-shows-cancer-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Patient gives up ovaries after genetic testing shows cancer risk"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Martha Albrecht knew cancer ran in her family. Her mom survived breast cancer in the 1970s, as did Albrecht when she was in her 30s. Albrecht\u2019s sister, Linda, died of breast cancer in 2003.<\/p>\n

In May 2015 Albrecht, 53, received confirmation that she carries the mutated gene BRCA1<\/em>, one of many genes that are linked to breast cancer in women and men. This gene abnormality also increases the risk of ovarian cancer \u2014 a disease that is often fatal because by the time symptoms appear, it is too late to treat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always told I was at high risk for ovarian cancer and should do genetic testing,\u201d Albrecht said.<\/p>\n

But she hesitated because she had read that concrete proof of the gene could affect the ability of her children to get health insurance, and she did not want that to hinder them.<\/p>\n

But then came health care reform, and Albrecht finally felt comfortable enough to oblige her older daughter\u2019s request to have the genetic testing done.<\/p>\n

The results of genetic testing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The testing showed that her 25-year-old daughter, LeeAnn, does not carry the gene, but her 22-year-old daughter, Alissa, does. Her son, Alex, 28, has not been tested.<\/p>\n

Knowing she had the BRCA1<\/em> gene gave Albrecht the opportunity to essentially knock ovarian cancer out of the picture. According to the American College of Obstetrics<\/a>, those with the BRCA1<\/em> or BRCA2<\/em> gene reduce their chances of getting ovarian cancer by 80 to 90 percent by having their ovaries removed. And, if they do it before menopause, they reduce their risk of getting breast cancer by 50 to 60 percent.<\/p>\n

Still, Albrecht was hesitant to step into the ring. Doing so would mean yet another surgery, and she had already had two partial mastectomies and breast reconstruction. She didn\u2019t want the disruption to her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt shamed by my previous doctors that I didn\u2019t want to do it,\u201d she said. \u201cThey would say, \u2018Don\u2019t you know this will kill you?\u2019 I never felt like I was heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hereditary Risk Checklist<\/strong><\/p>\n

If one or more of the following situations applies to you or your immediate family, you may want to make an appointment with the Hereditary Cancer Clinic in your area:<\/p>\n