What a joy to introduce to you, Link of Hope Sista Wendy Unger from Miami Beach. She is courageous and inspiring Previvor. In her own words: This is National Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer Week and I’m Wendy Unger. This is my story: It was Holiday Season, - 2009, my sister Nancy was diagnosed positive with the BRCA1 Breast & Ovarian Cancer gene mutation. Wow! The doctors say that she had to have her ovaries and breasts removed in order to prevent Breast and Ovarian CANCER! This is really radical! Then the other shoe drops, this is hereditary. Each of the other three Unger siblings had to take the test. Its the holidays; would I have to think about cancer? So, the next step is the test. Being me, I approach it with the idea that it’s just not possible that I could have the gene mutation too. I test, and the results don’t come until January. Im positive BRCA1, too, and my husband, Seth and I have to make a big decision. Its not intellectually difficult - the oncologist tells you the facts: with the gene mutation, your risk increases from the normal populations 2-3% to the BRCAs 85-90% risk. The difficulty in the decision is the emotional one, you have to decide to have your breasts removed and you find that raises a lot of emotions in both partners. Fortunately, there is support to be found: there are organizations that provide it. So, we made our decision and 2010 was a year full of hospital and surgery, those that we planned and one surprise. February was the salpingo-oopherectomy, the removal of my ovaries and fallopian tubes. One week into my recovery from my first surgery, I had to have emergency spine surgery. I had to spend several months in physical therapy before I could have the next planned preventative surgery, the double mastectomy, the removal of my breasts. I had that surgery in July and was lucky enough to have reconstructive surgery at the same time. In my procedure, the physicians and I had chosen to use tissue expanders to help build my new breasts. By November, it was time to have the expanders removed and the implants placed, just the next step in the reconstructive process. Wow, the holidays were upon us again and it was overwhelming to look back at what 2010 had been like for us. But it was not over yet, the reconstructive process continued, February 2nd, I got my nipples, and then got them tattooed in July. Now, Ill have to have to be vigilant to watch for cancer signs annually. It really wasn’t over; I had the 2nd portion of the tattoo process in 2012. That’s my story… What I have learned since my journey began…it’s important to share your story so other people know what you went through so they can feel safer about going through their own process/journey… I am so lucky to have my family, friends, and Sistas to travel the journey with me; without them I don’t know how I would have made it through! Get involved, helping others heal heals you… and most importantly share your story wherever you go. This world needs Cancer Warriors; in every room you enter, everybody has been touched in some way by cancer and can use your help. You never know who will hear what you have to say and be helped along the way, Remember, helping others heal, heals you. What surely looked like an apparent misfortune, turned into a gift? I knew it was my mission to help others with the hereditary cancer gene mutation to handle their future wisely and carefully. And if I think about it now, I know that in helping others, its really helped me heal. If you are a person with cancer, or the hereditary cancer gene and youre seeking support or information, please contact me at: Wendy .S, Unger (305) 772-7369 [email protected] facingourrisk.org Support hereditary breast and ovarian cancer research
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:00:00 +0000
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