Topic: Breast Cancer and BRCA Gene
Original Air Date - November 13, 2005: “Let It Be”

A patient in her mid-30s checks into the hospital, after receiving a positive test result for a BRCA gene mutation (short for BReast CAncer gene). She insists on having a prophylactic (preventive) surgery to remove her breasts and ovaries, despite her husband’s objections.

Testing positive for a BRCA gene mutation, along with a family history of breast cancer, increases a woman’s lifetime chance of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer, from 13 percent to between 36 to 85 percent. However, n ot allwomen who inherit an altered gene will develop breast or ovarian cancer and most women do not need to be tested.

Someone who has a positive test result for BRCA may consider prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of one or both breasts to reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 90 percent. This may be an option for a woman whose mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, especially if they were diagnosed before age 50. This surgery does not, however, offer a guarantee against developing cancer.

There are many issues surrounding prophylactic surgery, including psychological and physical effects due to the change in body image and loss of normal breast function. A woman should discuss her feelings about mastectomy and alternatives to surgery with her health care providers. Some women obtain a second opinion to help with the decision.

For more information on the BRCA gene, visit: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

For more information on breast cancer, visit: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast

Topic: Gallbladder Cancer
Original Air Date - November 13, 2005: “Let It Be”

An elderly woman arrives in the hospital distressed from vomiting and pain in her abdominal region. The surgeon removes the woman’s gallbladder and finds that she has gallbladder cancer. There aren’t any noticeable signs in the early stages of gallbladder cancer, but as the disease progresses symptoms include jaundice, pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever and lumps in the abdomen. After learning that her case could no longer be treated, the elderly patient becomes distressed. Patients going through a difficult time with a new disease diagnosis and/or course of treatment may benefit from a cancer support group or other services that are available to help patients and their families with medical, psychological, and spiritual issues.

For more information on gallbladder cancer, visit: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/ gallbladder/patient

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