When Nicole Varnell, 43, was a senior in high school, her mother was diagnosed withbreast cancer.
She passed when Varnell was 21.
Soon after watching her mother die, Varnell decided she didn’t need her breasts.
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I know I can’t prevent everything, but I can prevent this one thing."
This drives more surgery than even a positive BRCA mutation test, she says.
Certain mutations to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
But she urges women to get all the facts before making such a life-changing decision.
“The average risk of developing breast cancer is 10 to 12 percent,” Agnese says.
One in eight women will have breast cancer in her lifetime.
“So it’s definitely more common that women with a mutation choose to remove their breasts.
But I definitely have women who dont and ask to do it.”
“The risk is still under 10 percent over 20 years if you had cancer in one breast.
Many doctorsarent pleased to see this trend developing.
Varnell’s glad she did it, but admits it was harder than she thought it would be.
Maybe there was no reason for me to do it, maybe I never would have gotten it.
But I dont second guess it.”
She also has no feeling in her breasts, an unwelcome side effect.
Still, she believes it was the right decision for her and her family.
Agnese suggests talking through all your options with a doctor if you’re considering the same.
After assessing your risk, you should discussall the ways to manage riskother than surgery.
“Eighty percent of women survive a breast cancer diagnosis,” Agnese says.
“Most women who make this decision are satisfied,” she adds.
Varnell’s sister, who also saw their mother sick all those years ago, didn’t follow suit.
But there’s nothing wrong with either decision.
I guess I just know who I am and know what I cant live with," Varnell says.
“There are obviously a million types of cancer you cant do anything about,” she adds.
“you’ve got the option to’t just remove your kidneys.”
But this, at least, she knew she could control.
Photo Credit: Russ Rhode / Getty Images
