Mastectomy/Hysterectomy... WWYD?

alphahelix

I'm sure everyone has heard/seen the news piece about Angelina Jolie's decision to have a mastectomy after finding out that she carries the mutated BRCA1 gene. I also recently saw a similar story about Kara DioGuardi having a hysterectomy at age 38 when she found out she was at high risk for cervical and uterine cancers.

I'm curious - if you found out today that there was a 90% chance that you would breast or cervical cancer in your lifetime, would you opt to have a mastectomy or hysterectomy? Or would you wait and hope to be lucky or just rely on the treatments?

bluemommy

I think I would check myself often( like go to the dr multiple times a year) but not have any surgery unless it was known that I absolutely needed it.

alphahelix

Laurski81:

I would opt to have the surgery. 

However, I wonder about how feasible it would be...especially regarding the costs involved.  For example, (now I have absolutely no idea) but does insurance cover this?  Or do they see it as a "elective" surgery?  Could I afford it if they did not?

That's a really good question. I know Kara DioGuardi commented about how expensive the genetic testing was and how lucky she was to be able to afford it. Knowing how our health care system is, it probably would be considered an elective procedure - which would most likely mean it would be nearly impossible for most people to afford it. But then again, can you put a price on your life? Would you go into big debt to potentially save yourself from an early death? 

Reilly626

Absolutely! My grandma died at 34 of breast cancer. Cancer is awful if you have ever had a close person suffer from it in your life it's trying.

ThePinkSuperhero

If I knew I needed the surgery, I'd get it.  That said, I don't want to know if I need it.  Know what I mean?  My family is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (Dad's side) and I know my grandmother died of breast cancer, so I'll have to ask my OB/GYN about BRCA testing at my next appoitnment, but I think I hope she says I can pass on it.

WonderJess

I'm done having kids and absolutely would have either surgery.  I am not sure about the genetic testing being covered but I know of multiple women who had mastectomies for this reason and their insurance did cover it.  Chemo and treatment of cancer is FAR more expensive to them than the surgery. 

britbratjf

I think that yes I would have both. I think the hysterectomy would be harder just because it would throw your hormones out of wack.

FTR the test is 4,000 and I don't know if its covered by insurance. The Supreme Court is actually getting ready to hear arguments relating to this test because there is only 1 company that can do the test because they hold the patent on the two genes. So the SC is going to hear arguments on whether or not you can patent a gene. But basically women who aren't as well off can't afford to get the test.

reinedecajun

If my odds were that high, I would do it in a heartbeat for both procedures.