Imagine that you are an otherwise healthy young woman (23) who has a problem. The problem is that virtually every woman in your family (your mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunts, and cousins) all suffered or have died from breast cancer. What would you do?
This was the situation of Lindsay Avner who discovered that she too has a genetic predisposition to the disease. She didn't want to live in fear. She wanted to meet her future husband and say, "we got this out of the way so our family won't go through what I did growing up." So what did she do? She volunteered to undergo a double masectomy.
How's that for decisively dealing with a problem? Wanting to spare her future family from what hers went through growing up, she made the difficult decision and has even started her own non-profit organization, Be Bright Pink to rally against the disease. What's really interesting is some of the responses she's had regarding her radical decision. Most people think she's a hero, but others question the wisdom of her decision. Some even question her faith! As a man, I can't relate to this as much as other's might, but my question is: what would you do?
May Light increase!
Testing
3 weeks ago
10 comments:
I started reading the responses and very quickly got angry, particularly at an anonymous comment near the top. In stating that if she is to get cancer it's God's will and she can't thwart it, the writer is assuming they know God's will. What if her purpose is to raise awareness of breast cancer and a new preventative technique? I don't know what the answer is, but I hate it when people assume they know what God wants to happen. And throwing on a What Would Jesus Do on the end of their statement? All I have to say to that is this.
Jesus didn't have breasts.
JBo
I think this girl is very courageous whether I think she made the right decision is not for me to say. I can imagine though that if my Mom had breast cancer and I had to grow up with that, then I found out I was predisposed to the same thing, I'd seriously consider lopping mine off too! What bothered me was that right away everyone is asking if she can get implants. Yeah, like those are really safe. She was courageous enough to have a double masectomy, don't people think she has the courage to walk through life with no breasts? Don't they think a woman can have sex appeal and a fantastic intimate relationship with their spouse without them? Whatever happened to "it's what's on the inside that counts!"
I watched the whole interview and she did say she got implants at the same time (literally, the plastic surgeon was also in the room when the mastectomy was done)
That being said, my first question was "How often is she going to be going for cancer testing now?" I would think that even though she can't get breast cancer anymore, is she still at risk for other types due to the gene she carries? I assume she wouldn't need to go as often, but is she really totally free now?
JBo
I haven't had time to view all the comments, or the interview, however this story strikes a cord with me. I watched my dad battle cancer (twice) and would not wish the fight on anyone. I understand her not wanting to face the same thing her mother did your put her children through it. I am not sure Lindsey's choice would be my choice, but I applude her for being proactive. While we are not God, God has given us tools to use to keep ourselves healthy and safe. We look both ways before crossing the street, we have doctors and treatments available; while this may have been drastic I don't see it as "playing God".
Intersting post Mark!
I know that women who get breast cancer often also have cancer in the lymph nodes around the breasts (armpits, etc). It would be interesting to know if chances for cancer to those areas would also be less since the breasts were removed. Hmmm...
Wow, great comments everyone! I'm just curious though, nobody has answered my question . . . what would you do? I think I would consider it. If I had a history of people in my family dying because they got cancer in their hands, I would consider chopping of my hand! Better no hand then dead . . .
Nope, I would never do it. Breast cancer is on both sides of my family and I had a tumor removed at 21 (benign...phew) ... and still i would not chop em
nobody answered your question?
And I quote: "I can imagine though that if my Mom had breast cancer and I had to grow up with that, then I found out I was predisposed to the same thing, I'd seriously consider lopping mine off too!"
You can still get breast cancer after a mastectomy. They don't take every bit of breast tissue. As Jobina said, peple who develop breast cancer usually also develop cancer in the lymph nodes. While your chances of getting breast cancer are lessened by a mastectomy, they are not completely erased. I don't think a double mastectomy is the answer, but I wouldn't react negatively to someone who chose to do it.
Thanks for the post, Mark!
Michele
My first reaction would be No, I wouldn't do that. Getting breast cancer because it's in your family history is not a given, is it? I'd take the chance, and then have the operation if I did get it.
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