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Family life with the cancer gene Family life with the cancer gene
(2 days later)
"It's like finding a spelling mistake in a book.""It's like finding a spelling mistake in a book."
That's how Rhona Lavery's doctor explained it to her when he broke the bad news.That's how Rhona Lavery's doctor explained it to her when he broke the bad news.
Diagnosed with breast cancer aged only 39, a family history of the disease prompted doctors to send the Derry woman for a genetic test.Diagnosed with breast cancer aged only 39, a family history of the disease prompted doctors to send the Derry woman for a genetic test.
Rhona was diagnosed as a carrier of the braca 1 gene, which made it almost certain that her cancer would return.Rhona was diagnosed as a carrier of the braca 1 gene, which made it almost certain that her cancer would return.
Instead, she opted for a double masectomy so that she could be there for her family. Instead, she opted for a double mastectomy so that she could be there for her family.
"It was something I had to do."It was something I had to do.
"The only thing was to have the surgery."The only thing was to have the surgery.
"I just thought, if that's what I have to do, that's what I have to do."I just thought, if that's what I have to do, that's what I have to do.
"My wee son has Down's Syndrome, so he needed me, and my daughter needed me, because she was just starting university, so I needed to be here for them," she said."My wee son has Down's Syndrome, so he needed me, and my daughter needed me, because she was just starting university, so I needed to be here for them," she said.
We came out and we both sat in the car and we both cried for a while, then I said, let's hit TK Maxx Rhona LaveryWe came out and we both sat in the car and we both cried for a while, then I said, let's hit TK Maxx Rhona Lavery
Diagnosed with cancer when she was just 39, Rhona had already watched her two aunts die of the disease.Diagnosed with cancer when she was just 39, Rhona had already watched her two aunts die of the disease.
"My mother's two sisters both died, one of breast cancer and one of ovarian cancer, when I was in my teens."My mother's two sisters both died, one of breast cancer and one of ovarian cancer, when I was in my teens.
"We never thought much about it then, we just thought this was something that happened to them until I got cancer."We never thought much about it then, we just thought this was something that happened to them until I got cancer.
"A year after that, my mother got ovarian cancer, and my sister said then, I think there's some link there."A year after that, my mother got ovarian cancer, and my sister said then, I think there's some link there.
Genetic testing confirmed Rhona was carrying the braca 1 gene.Genetic testing confirmed Rhona was carrying the braca 1 gene.
"It meant I had a 70% chance of breast cancer and a high chance of getting ovarian cancer," she said."It meant I had a 70% chance of breast cancer and a high chance of getting ovarian cancer," she said.
"The day the letter came and said I had the gene, and there was a 65% chance of it recurring in your other breast, I remember that hit me really hard."The day the letter came and said I had the gene, and there was a 65% chance of it recurring in your other breast, I remember that hit me really hard.
"I remember I sat and cried that day, because that is when you really realise it, when you see it on paper."I remember I sat and cried that day, because that is when you really realise it, when you see it on paper.
"It even said on the letter that the only thing was to have surgery," she said."It even said on the letter that the only thing was to have surgery," she said.
No regretsNo regrets
Six weeks after undergoing her double masectomy, Rhona was up and about and celebrating her daughter's 18th birthday. Six weeks after undergoing her double mastectomy, Rhona was up and about and celebrating her daughter's 18th birthday.
She said she had no regrets about the operation.She said she had no regrets about the operation.
"Up to the surgery every day was a worry."Up to the surgery every day was a worry.
"Every day you got up and thought, am I going to find a lump today?"Every day you got up and thought, am I going to find a lump today?
"I really couldn't enjoy my life, but once I had the surgery I felt I could enjoy life because I was going to be grand."I really couldn't enjoy my life, but once I had the surgery I felt I could enjoy life because I was going to be grand.
"I had the same chance of getting cancer as anybody else in the street," she said."I had the same chance of getting cancer as anybody else in the street," she said.
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But the worry was not quite over for the Lavery family.But the worry was not quite over for the Lavery family.
This year, Rhona's 22-year-old daughter Deirdre was also diagnosed with the gene.This year, Rhona's 22-year-old daughter Deirdre was also diagnosed with the gene.
"The day we got the results, we went over there sort of hoping she wouldn't be, but we said if she has it we'll deal with it, and if she hasn't, that's grand."The day we got the results, we went over there sort of hoping she wouldn't be, but we said if she has it we'll deal with it, and if she hasn't, that's grand.
"When he told her, we listened to what the doctor had to say and then we came out and we both sat in the car and we both cried for a while."When he told her, we listened to what the doctor had to say and then we came out and we both sat in the car and we both cried for a while.
"Then I said, let's hit TK Maxx, and away we went and shopped."Then I said, let's hit TK Maxx, and away we went and shopped.
"At least she will be looked after - they've said that when she's 30 they'll put her on a screening programme, so she's going to be seen to, and in a way, at least she knows.""At least she will be looked after - they've said that when she's 30 they'll put her on a screening programme, so she's going to be seen to, and in a way, at least she knows."