Routine Checkup And Knowing Her Family’s History May Help Save Her Life
By Amoi Geter
October is recognized as breast cancer awareness month and serves as a reminder for many to undergo periodic checkups and to seek treatment for positive diagnoses. For Alabama Power employee Kimberly Maryland, a routine checkup and knowing her family’s medical history may help save her life.
Many women in Maryland’s family have battled breast cancer. Her mother, aunt and cousin all were diagnosed with the disease. Knowing this, and learning from her doctor that she has a high likelihood of developing breast cancer based on the results of her family’s BRACAnalysis ®, Maryland has decided to opt for an elective double mastectomy.
The BRACAnalysis ® is a genetic test that detects the presence of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 (breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 and 2) mutation. Carriers of either of these gene mutations have risks of up to 87 percent for developing breast cancer and 39 to 63 percent for developing ovarian cancer by age 70.
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