Preventative Mastectomies and Ovary Removal Aren’t ‘Death Sentence’
JACKSON, Tenn. – Local women testing positive for a cancer-indicating gene said they relate to actress Angelina Jolie’s extreme attempt to keep healthy. The Hollywood star said she is having her ovaries removed – that after her breasts were removed. Michelle Patterson was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer eight years ago. Now she is cancer free. “Everything flashes through your eyes all at once,” Patterson said. “You know, am I going to die? Am I going to be here to raise my child?” But it was not an easy battle to fight. After going through radiation and all the treatments, there was a possibility the cancer could still come back, but she was not going to let that happen. She got genetic testing done, and found out she carries a gene known to increase your chances of getting breast cancer. This led to her decision to have her breasts, tubes and ovaries removed. “If a woman is concerned that she may have this hereditary gene that Ms. Jolie has, the best way to start is to get a piece of paper and do a good job writing down their family history,” said Dr. Brian Walker, who works for the Cancer Care Center. For Patterson, it was a no-brainer. “I have a family,” she said. “My son is the most important thing to me. He is my life, and he’s gotta have somebody around. He’s got to have his mother, and with that, you just do it.” That meant she had to make some lifestyle changes. “Now for having the ovariectomy, being thrown into menopause, you do have to get adjusted to those hot flashes. A little bit to the weight gain, stuff like that.” Patterson said she has no regrets. “It’s not a death sentence, and that is what’s so important, you know, that there is life, you can have a very productive life,” Patterson said. “You just have to make sure that that’s the right decision that you want.” Doctors recommend you take an online quiz on https://www.hereditarycancerquiz.com/ to find out your cancer risk.
