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Pieces of Me: 1 Hour Documentary |
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In 2007 Veronica, Christine, and Elisha Neave, 3 sisters, all young women, may have their perfectly healthy breasts removed in the hope of saving their lives. They’ve all been tested positive for BRCA2, a genetic malfunction, an inherited gene disorder that means they are at a significantly higher than normal risk of breast and or ovarian cancer before they turn 50. |
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These three women, possibly even their two brothers, and certainly their children are all a pre-determined high risk. They’ve been tested for BRCA2 and it would appear to be predestined that their mother and grandmothers fate could be theirs. They are all now going through the pain and heartache of having to make a decision to remove their breasts now whilst they are young and healthy and have no symptoms of cancer or wait until cancer sets in. Choosing to have both their breasts removed would circumvent what is a family history of women dying young of breast cancer with the aim to living longer then half a century and not feeling like a ticking time bomb. They should also seriously consider having their ovaries removed however one step at a time. One sister has chosen to have a full prophylactic mastectomy to remove her healthy breasts. The other two are struggling with difficult decision making process to bring the future into the present and have their breast removed in order to reduce the risk of developing cancer at a later date. The Purpose of this Documentary A one hour documentary will be produced that will put a human face to the accelerating scientific advancements in genetic identification. The science of genetic identification and diagnosis is expanding faster than cures or treatments, what do people then do with the knowledge of faulty genes, when treatments and cures are still far behind. The documentary follows 3 sisters through their personal journey and life altering decision making process after being diagnosed with the BRACA2 breast cancer gene. It is an intimate travel with them through diagnosis and decisions about the future. The Documentary will focus on the personal story whilst providing scientific and medical information regarding genetics and breast cancer. It will also explore the social and ethical implications of owning the knowledge of a genetic pre-disposition to a disease. Information About BRCA-2 If you have a family history of breast cancer before the age of 50 or ovarian cancer at any age, then there is a possibility that you may have the BRACA gene. BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are two genes that are linked with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. About 200,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year and about 23,000 with ovarian cancer (according to the American Cancer Society). Of these cancers, about 5% to 10% will be due to a mutation in one of the BRCA genes. Men can also inherit an increased risk of developing breast cancer, primarily from an alteration in the BRCA-2 gene. Individuals with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have significantly elevated risks for breast cancer (up to 80% lifetime risk), ovarian cancer (up to 40% lifetime risk), bilateral breast cancer and other types of cancers. BRCA mutations are inherited and passed from generation to generation. One half of the time, they are passed from the father’s side of the family. If you have tested positive to BRCA, there are several options, including increased frequency of check-ups (e.g., mammography, blood tests for CA-125, or transvaginal ultrasonography); medications that could reduce risk (e.g., oral contraceptives or tamoxifen); or surgical removal of the ovaries or breasts. Do You have a similar story
We would like to hear from anyone with a similar story they wish to share as we are looking to incorporate into the documentary a small feature to show this is not a a journey that only the Neave sisters are on but many are traveling on the same path. View Today Tonight story at http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/40639/none/sisters-fighting-cancer. |