HEALTH & FITNESS
genetics
LIFESAVING from page A27
Spotlighting Hereditary
Breast, Ovarian Cancers
Judith Doner Berne
Special to the Jewish
News
E
Ilyn Davidson is
behind the recent
formation of two
local support groups
to improve the lives of indi-
viduals and families facing
hereditary breast and/or ovar-
ian cancer.
Both are part of the national
organization FORCE (Facing
Our Risk of Cancer Empow-
ered), which began 10 years
ago and has 52 chapters in 33
states.
One group meets at Beau-
mont Hospital, from 7 to 8:30
p.m., on the second Wednes-
day of each month alternat-
ing between its Royal Oak
and Troy campuses.
The other, which is just
starting up, meets every
other month at the American
Cancer Society in Southfield.
Experienced in getting the
word out (she's a partner in
Brogan & Partners advertis-
ing in Birmingham), Davidson
announces meeting dates
and speakers on her blog,
www.ellyndavidson.word-
press.com , and on the South-
east Michigan component of
the FORCE Web site,
www.facingourrisk.org .
The Huntington Woods wife
and mother of three found a
lump on her breast and re-
ceived a diagnosis of breast
cancer in August 2007 when
she was 36.
Although cancer can be
readily traceable in a family
— and isn't always geneti-
cally based — in Davidson's
case it was less clear.
"My dad is an only child
and his mother had four
brothers, so there were very
few women on that side of the
family," she said. "I knew that
my dad's cousins had breast
cancer and one had ovar-
ian cancer, but they
were diagnosed in
their 60s. I didn't even
know them."
She was advised
to take the Multisite
3 BRACAnalysis that
detects the three most
common BRCA1 and
BRCA2 mutations in
people of Ashkenazi
Jewish descent that
may result in an in-
creased risk for breast
and/or ovarian cancer.
The night before
she had the test, she
spoke to one cousin
After her own experience with heredi-
who told her she was
tary cancer, Ellyn Davidson began two
BRCA2. Davidson's
local support groups.
test revealed that she
also had the BRCA2
mutation transmitted through
questions and urge seeing a
her dad.
genetic counselor.
The test generally costs
Major cancer hospitals
$3,120. Insurance pays all
such as Beaumont Hospital,
or most of the cost for those
Royal Oak; Henry Ford Health
who meet the criteria which
System, West Bloomfield and
include a personal and fam-
Detroit; Karmanos Cancer
ily history of breast cancer
Institute, Detroit; St. Joseph
before age 50, personal and
Mercy Hospital, Ypsilanti;
family history of ovarian can-
and University of Michigan
cer, bilateral breast cancer
Medical Center, Ann Arbor,
and male breast cancer.
all have genetic counselors
"I'm a lucky survivor,"
on staff.
Davidson said. "I caught my
Knowing and doing what
cancer early, I got my treat-
you need to do about it is
ment and I feel great today.
freeing, Davidson said. "I am
I did everything I could do
an open book. I will lift my
to fight cancer — double
shirt and show people my
mastectomy, lymph nodes
reconstructed breasts. I love
removed, chemotherapy, oo-
my life. I am as happy as I
phorectomy combined with a
have ever been.
full hysterectomy.
"In the world of breast
"For women who have the
cancer, we can know our
mutation, a baseline mam-
genetic status; we can go
mogram at 40 is too late," she
for yearly mammograms, or
insists. "People attend our
more frequently if necessary;
meetings who are suspicious
and we can do monthly self
that they have the gene, but
breast exams. We can catch
haven't been tested. It's so
this disease early."
important, but people are
For ovarian cancer, on the
afraid."
other hand, "we are not so
At local FORCE meetings,
lucky," she says. Money is
she and others who have
needed to fund programs
gone through the experience, in research and to raise
give insight, support, answer
awareness.
Her husband, Tal, was concerned how she would handle it
psychologically. "It wasn't my call," said Tal, a custom furni-
ture maker. "My role was one of support. My major concern
was how she would view herself as a woman. I was amazed
once the surgery was over, it was business as usual."
Viewing the film In the Family, which follows filmmaker
Joanna Rudnick as she deals with her BRCA-positive
genetic test result, "opened my eyes," Tal says. "When I
saw how other women coped with it, I understood what
was going on in Lisa's mind."
"You know what? They're only breasts," said Siegmann,
who elected reconstructive surgery. "I'm going to have the
perkiest breasts in the nursing home."
She also found the books Pretty Is What Changes, by
Jessica Queller and Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy
by Geralyn Lucas (also on DVD) extremely helpful, although
"there isn't a lot out there."
Stirring Resolve
Once she made the decision, Siegmann never faltered,
scheduling the partial hysterectomy for this past January
and the double mastectomy in March.
Several weeks after the mastectomy, surgeon Dr.
William Kestenberg, M.D. confirmed to the Jewish News at
Siegmann's request: "She saved her life by doing this."
"The pathology report showed three very small areas
of non-invasive cancer," said Kestenberg, whose practice
is in West Bloomfield. "These were microscopic; she was
fortunate that they were found. It further substantiated her
decision."
Kestenberg, who specializes in breast cancer surgery,
applauds the increased awareness of testing. But he also
cautions women to fully consider the ramifications of being
positive before they are tested.
He advises genetic counseling ahead of the test as well
as after.
"The test is easy to do, but people aren't always thinking
of the consequences. It's the interpretation of the results
that is complicated. Lisa knew what she would do."
Helpful Support
Friends and co-workers at the Bloomfield Township-based
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's Alliance for
Jewish Education "were shaken" by her diagnosis and deci-
sion, said Siegmann, who is associate director for Jewish
Experience for Families & Informal Education. "But they also
were unbelievably supportive. Everybody wants to help."
As part of a letter to her colleagues, she wrote that the
test results indicated "I have a 47 percent chance of get-
ting ovarian cancer and an 85 percent chance of getting
breast cancer by the time I am 70. This type of cancer is
extremely aggressive. If you have breast or ovarian cancer
in your family, may I suggest asking your doctor about get-
ting tested - it's a simple blood test."
"You know what? It's a miracle," said co-worker Gail
Greenberg as she stopped by with Passover treats for the
Siegmann family.
"Lisa is a phenomenal person to work with. She's car-
ing and giving and there for the community. Lisa made the
decision that was right for her."
Be Aware
"I found out at a very good time." Siegmann said. "I have
three kids. I'm done having children. If I had found out in
my 20s ..." The thought trails off.
"People say that I'm brave and courageous, but I don't
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May 28 • 2009