A new word in the lexicon of breast cancer and ovarian cancer is “Previvor”.
A previvor is a person who does not have cancer yet, but is at a higher, elevated risk to get cancer. Previvors are demonstrated in those women who test positive for the BRCA gene mutation.
BRCA gene mutation means higher than normal risk for developing breast and or ovarian cancer at an increasingly early age. Also men and women who carry this mutation have a 50% chance of passing it on to their children.
The BRCA gene mutation and previvor status recently made news and raised awareness by actress Christina Applegate’s disclosure. Previvors have a whole new set of decisions when concerning their predisposition to cancer, such as;
removing breasts, ovaries, freezing eggs and having children.
There is a wonderful documentary. “In the Family” by Joanna Rudnick who directs and tells her story as a BRCA gene mutation carrier. Read all about Joanna and her film in the cover story of Mamm magazine, www.mamm.com, or see some highlights from the PBS broadcast, http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/inthefamily/special_video.html
It is educational, inspiring, and opens a discussion for all women.