Comments on: Try Walking in Our Shoes

By: caryn

caryn — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:54:33 +0000

“Thanks for your comments.” The pbm decision has not been easy for me. I’m actually concerned about the comments from others, so your words are helpful. I need a support system so I can handle the negative comments from others who do not understand. “Why would you have healthy tissue removed?” That’s what I’m getting.
Thanks for confirming this is not as easy as it seems from the outside.

By: Laura Hayes

Laura Hayes — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:46:37 +0000

This film was wonderful and it arrived in my mailbox at the right moment in my life when I was facing the most difficult decisions in my life. It gave me and my family lots of insight on what these genes mean to my entire family.
I read this BLOG and loved it. To anyone out there that has any criticism to say my prayer for you is that you or anyone you love never has to find out what it is like to walk in our shoes.

By: barbara

barbara — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:20:34 +0000

Reading all you comments is helping know even though I have to have this horrible surgery it is the right decsion. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in may . Had lumpectom,chemo and last day of treatment I found out brca1+. My fathers sister had breast and twenty yrs later died from ovca.I have gone for many opions and feel I should have these surgies to reduce my risks so I can live in some pieace instead of it consuming my mind every wakink minute

By: diana

diana — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:51:52 +0000

great strength and great words.. i’ve watched ITF 4 times… now we’re going to purchase it. i am asking our local library to purchase it too- the hospital library. it is a good portrait of many options and views. thanks Sue.

By: April

April — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:20:14 +0000

I am from a family of five daughters; three carry the BRCA1 mutation. Our younger sister died of breast and ovarian cancer this year. We did not know about the gene defect at that time, and she opted for lumpectomies. Another sister has had breast cancer twice. She had a mastectomy each time. Her surgeon suggested she have the test. After she found she was positive, the three remaining sisters had the test. I also had a positive result. After learning more, I had my ovaries removed. I decided not to have prophylactic mastectomies because I felt I could catch any breast cancer early by continuing my careful watch for it with my physician. My latest mammograms showed ductal carcinoma in situ. It was well developed. This is not officially cancer, because it does not spread. It is, I was told, the last stage of pre-cancer. I immediately had both breasts removed. In retrospect, I feel I should have had the prophylactic mastectomies when I found out I was BRAC1 positive. I was extremely lucky to have had the warning of the ductal carcinoma. I do not have to go through chemo or radiation. I feel I could just as easily have developed breast cancer in the same twelve-month time frame.
My daughter is also positive, as is a young niece. My daughter is still recovering from complications from the breast cancer surgery she had over a year ago.
It is difficult to make the decision for prophylactic mastectomies, especially if you are still a young woman. I am in my early sixties with a very supportive husband. My heart goes out to every one of you facing this difficult decision.

By: TS

TS — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:02:38 +0000

I pre-ordered the documentary. It is well worth the money to now have it in my DVD library. It is now available for my sisters and other family members to watch when they want to do so. Thanks to all of you who have been part of FORCE. I recently tested positive with a BRCA2 mutation after DCIS at age 42. We do not have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. One of my sistes has now tested positive. Thank God we have options other than a ticking time bomb!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:14:53 +0000

thank you Sue for acknowledging that phrophylactic surgery is not the right choice for everyone

By: Becky W

Becky W — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:05:24 +0000

It astounds me that anyone could just say ‘quit whining and have the surgery.’ I have BRCA1, and was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer in April. Getting a masectomy was a fairly easy decision with my life at risk, but my doctors recently recommended hysterectomy, and that one is really hard. When you’re young and want to have children, that is a tough decision. Even if you’re older, we’re essentially removing things that strongly identify us as women, and that’s never an easy decision.

By: Grace T

Grace T — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:49:24 +0000

Love the blog, Sue. Thanks for this. I’ll link to you.