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| A family tree BRCA gene revelation may have saved my life | A family tree BRCA gene revelation may have saved my life |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Hannah Howie discovered she had the BRCA 2 gene in November 2023 | Hannah Howie discovered she had the BRCA 2 gene in November 2023 |
| Hannah Howie was a year away from getting married when a revelation from the past turned her life upside down. | Hannah Howie was a year away from getting married when a revelation from the past turned her life upside down. |
| Through research into her ancestry and family tree, her brother-in-law made an alarming discovery. | Through research into her ancestry and family tree, her brother-in-law made an alarming discovery. |
| Luke Emerton found that a number of women on the paternal side had died from breast cancer at a young age - including Hannah's grandmother. | Luke Emerton found that a number of women on the paternal side had died from breast cancer at a young age - including Hannah's grandmother. |
| This led to the 34-year-old having genetic testing and finding out she had a faulty gene, which dramatically increases the risk of certain cancers. | This led to the 34-year-old having genetic testing and finding out she had a faulty gene, which dramatically increases the risk of certain cancers. |
| The BRCA genes are present in every person, both men and women, but when a fault occurs in one of them it can result in DNA damage and lead to cells becoming cancerous. | The BRCA genes are present in every person, both men and women, but when a fault occurs in one of them it can result in DNA damage and lead to cells becoming cancerous. |
| People with a genetic variant have a 50% chance of passing it on to their children. | People with a genetic variant have a 50% chance of passing it on to their children. |
| I opted for surgery to try to "break the wheel" of my genetic legacy | I opted for surgery to try to "break the wheel" of my genetic legacy |
| Luke told BBC Scotland News how he stumbled upon the discovery. | Luke told BBC Scotland News how he stumbled upon the discovery. |
| He said: "We were trying to pull together a family tree for Hannah's dad for his birthday and we found there was a line of female relatives on her dad's side who had died of breast cancer at a young age. | He said: "We were trying to pull together a family tree for Hannah's dad for his birthday and we found there was a line of female relatives on her dad's side who had died of breast cancer at a young age. |
| "We clocked it with her gran, Agnes, who died at 33. | "We clocked it with her gran, Agnes, who died at 33. |
| "Then we started noticing a pattern." | "Then we started noticing a pattern." |
| He said the enormity of his discovery had yet to hit home. | He said the enormity of his discovery had yet to hit home. |
| Luke said: "Looking back, it's so strange how all of this has come from that one gift. | Luke said: "Looking back, it's so strange how all of this has come from that one gift. |
| "I'm so glad we found out this way and that Hannah knows about it and can act on decreasing the risk. | "I'm so glad we found out this way and that Hannah knows about it and can act on decreasing the risk. |
| "The fact she has been able to pre-empt all of this is incredible." | "The fact she has been able to pre-empt all of this is incredible." |
| 'I had to know' | 'I had to know' |
| Prof Zosia Miedzybrodska, of the University of Aberdeen, described BRCA 2 as a "huge gene" and said it could mutate and go wrong "in many ways". | |
| And she said the percentage difference between male and female cancers was "quite significant". | And she said the percentage difference between male and female cancers was "quite significant". |
| "The risk increase for a woman with breast cancer is anywhere up to 85%," she said. | "The risk increase for a woman with breast cancer is anywhere up to 85%," she said. |
| "For prostate cancer it's 27% and for male breast cancer it's 10%. | "For prostate cancer it's 27% and for male breast cancer it's 10%. |
| "The only way you know if you have the faulty BRCA 2 gene is if there is a history of breast, prostate or ovarian cancer in the family." | "The only way you know if you have the faulty BRCA 2 gene is if there is a history of breast, prostate or ovarian cancer in the family." |
| Cruise ship entertainer Hannah booked an appointment to discover if she had the gene, which also dramatically increases the risk of ovarian cancer. | Cruise ship entertainer Hannah booked an appointment to discover if she had the gene, which also dramatically increases the risk of ovarian cancer. |
| She told BBC Scotland News: "I had to find out if I had the faulty BRCA 2 gene. | She told BBC Scotland News: "I had to find out if I had the faulty BRCA 2 gene. |
| "Some people don't want to know but for my sanity, I really had to know." | "Some people don't want to know but for my sanity, I really had to know." |
| Hannah is a cruise ship entertainer | Hannah is a cruise ship entertainer |
| A few weeks later, in November 2023, it was confirmed that Hannah had the BRCA 2 gene. | A few weeks later, in November 2023, it was confirmed that Hannah had the BRCA 2 gene. |
| She immediately switched to survivor mode. | She immediately switched to survivor mode. |
| Hannah added: "When I heard the news, there were so many treatment options available. | Hannah added: "When I heard the news, there were so many treatment options available. |
| "I knew I had to pick the one that would give me the most longevity in my life. | "I knew I had to pick the one that would give me the most longevity in my life. |
| "The life I lead is too good to let it go." | "The life I lead is too good to let it go." |
| The entertainer said she had little doubt about what to do. | The entertainer said she had little doubt about what to do. |
| She said: "The doctor explained the biggest risk averter would be going for a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. | She said: "The doctor explained the biggest risk averter would be going for a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. |
| "If I go for this option, the breast cancer risk drops from 85% to 5%. | "If I go for this option, the breast cancer risk drops from 85% to 5%. |
| "It was a no-brainer for me. It was what I had to do." | "It was a no-brainer for me. It was what I had to do." |
| Hannah is due to go for a double mastectomy next week to remove the breast tissue and reduce her risk of breast cancer. | Hannah is due to go for a double mastectomy next week to remove the breast tissue and reduce her risk of breast cancer. |
| This will be followed by reconstructive surgery in the next few months. | This will be followed by reconstructive surgery in the next few months. |
| Hannah and her husband Graeme McLean pictured alongside TV presenter Carol Smillie on their wedding day last December | Hannah and her husband Graeme McLean pictured alongside TV presenter Carol Smillie on their wedding day last December |
| Breast cancer surgeon Dr Liz O'Riordan said: "The reason we can't say the percentage of BRCA 2 is 0% after the surgery is because it's impossible to know if we have removed all breast tissue. | Breast cancer surgeon Dr Liz O'Riordan said: "The reason we can't say the percentage of BRCA 2 is 0% after the surgery is because it's impossible to know if we have removed all breast tissue. |
| "It's like removing seeds from an orange. You can't be certain you've got them all. | "It's like removing seeds from an orange. You can't be certain you've got them all. |
| "Even after surgery, our patients are told to be hypervigilant in checking themselves. | "Even after surgery, our patients are told to be hypervigilant in checking themselves. |
| "You can't be too careful when checking your body for any lumps or bumps." | "You can't be too careful when checking your body for any lumps or bumps." |
| Hannah, who is just a year older than her late gran was when she died, is receiving her treatment through the NHS. | Hannah, who is just a year older than her late gran was when she died, is receiving her treatment through the NHS. |
| She is being supported by her husband, Graeme McLean, who she married in December last year. | She is being supported by her husband, Graeme McLean, who she married in December last year. |
| Hannah said: "I had started thinking about children. | Hannah said: "I had started thinking about children. |
| "If I have them, I run the risk of passing the gene onto them. | "If I have them, I run the risk of passing the gene onto them. |
| "Did I really want the possibility of my future children having to go through the same as me?" | "Did I really want the possibility of my future children having to go through the same as me?" |
| Hannah, who is from Edinburgh but now lives in Motherwell, said she was overwhelmed at the thought of that happening. | Hannah, who is from Edinburgh but now lives in Motherwell, said she was overwhelmed at the thought of that happening. |
| She added: "That's when I decided I would start taking my life day-by-day, hour-by-hour and minute-by-minute. | She added: "That's when I decided I would start taking my life day-by-day, hour-by-hour and minute-by-minute. |
| "I had to for my sanity." | "I had to for my sanity." |
| 'A huge game-changer' | 'A huge game-changer' |
| To cope with the life-altering development Hannah has written and starred in a cabaret called A Funeral for My Boobs. | To cope with the life-altering development Hannah has written and starred in a cabaret called A Funeral for My Boobs. |
| She said: "I know it's something many would look at negatively. | She said: "I know it's something many would look at negatively. |
| "Looking at it positively has really helped me come to terms with it. | "Looking at it positively has really helped me come to terms with it. |
| "I call it A Fun-eral for My Boobs because to me it just feels like I'm welcoming the next chapter of my life." | "I call it A Fun-eral for My Boobs because to me it just feels like I'm welcoming the next chapter of my life." |
| In the meantime, she said she is thankful for the "geekiness" of her brother-in-law whose research changed everything. | In the meantime, she said she is thankful for the "geekiness" of her brother-in-law whose research changed everything. |
| She said: "Mentally and physically, knowing has been a huge game-changer. | She said: "Mentally and physically, knowing has been a huge game-changer. |
| "I've had to rethink my entire future but knowing this has allowed me to pre-empt and prepare for it. | "I've had to rethink my entire future but knowing this has allowed me to pre-empt and prepare for it. |
| "That's a luxury not a lot of people have." | "That's a luxury not a lot of people have." |