When we were little girls, the idea of looking into a glass ball to see our futures unfold was a blissful imaginative paradise inspired by our favorite fairy tales. Today, young women are capable of taking a glimpse into their own futures with advancements in medical screenings such as the BRCA gene test.
The BRCA gene test is a blood test designed to identify harmful DNA mutations in either one of the two breast cancer predisposition genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2). Although it is believed everyone has these genes, mutations in the gene can cause a significantly increased risk for developing breast cancer. While breast cancer can be caused by numerous variables, many women find the BRCA tests to be empowering, giving them the opportunity to take a proactive step against breast cancer.
Results from BRCA gene tests can help women make informed decisions regarding their health. If the results come back as positive, women have available options for guarding themselves against breast cancer. Some of the options include preventative medicine, prophylactic surgery, and regular monitoring with MRI or ultrasound.
PRMA patient Kathryn Spencer is a young woman who received a positive BRCA gene test. With this knowledge, she jumped into action and began to research her options. Eventually she decided a prophylactic (or preventative) mastectomy was the right decision for her. Watch below as Kathryn shares her experience.
Author: Courtney Floyd
Results from BRCA gene tests can help women make informed decisions regarding their health
Leave Comment
No Comments
Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletter
Continue Reading
BRCA Positive and Proactively Confident
PRMA Performs Record Breaking 60 DIEP Flaps in April
PRMA Performs Record Breaking 60 DIEP Flaps in April July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin PRMA Plastic Surgery is excited to say that in the month of April the surgeons performed a record breaking 60 DIEP flap breast reconstructions. This makes PRMA one of very few breast reconstruction centers in the world to […]
The Nipple-Areola Tattooing Experience
The Nipple-Areola Tattooing Experience July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin How is nipple tattooing performed after breast cancer surgery? Breast reconstruction offers women the opportunity to regain their self-image and individuality after breast cancer. The final phase of breast reconstruction is the nipple-areola tattooing. This procedure is also known as Micropigmentation (medical tattooing) and […]
Hospital Must Haves for Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Hospital Must Haves for Breast Reconstruction Surgery July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What should I bring to the hospital for breast reconstruction surgery? So, you are about to head to the hospital for your breast reconstruction, and you have to stay there for a few days! Here is a list of items […]
Research by PRMA Surgeons Decreases DIEP Flap Complications
Research by PRMA Surgeons Decreases DIEP Flap Complications July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Is there a way to reduce complication rates during DIEP flap breast reconstruction? A study conducted at PRMA and published in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, finds that the use of a second vein during DIEP flap surgery, a […]
Feeling Feminine After Breast Cancer
Feeling Feminine After Breast Cancer July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Can you still feel feminine after breast cancer surgery? Beautiful, sexy, confident–these are words commonly used by our culture today to describe the women in magazines, television shows, and in the movies. It is hard as “normal” women not to feel the […]
Plastic Surgery Isn’t All About Looks
Plastic Surgery Isn’t All About Looks July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Is plastic surgery more than a breast augmentation? When you think of plastic surgery, you may imagine someone getting a breast augmentation, or maybe even think about celebrities who’ve undergone the knife in attempts to defy the aging process. Tummy tuck, […]
Traveling for Breast Cancer Reconstruction
Traveling for Breast Cancer Reconstruction July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Is is possible to travel for breast reconstruction? Unfortunately when it comes to breast reconstruction, some women will have to travel away from home to get the surgery they want. Procedures like the DIEP flap are not widely performed due to the […]
PRMA Expands, Bringing Advanced Breast Reconstruction Services to Stone Oak
PRMA Expands, Bringing Advanced Breast Reconstruction Services to Stone Oak July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Press Release) PRMA Plastic Surgery, one of the world’s largest breast reconstruction centers, announced today the practice will expand into Stone Oak, opening its doors on April 1st. After adding a 7th surgeon late last year and […]
PRMA Performs 5,000th Free Flap Breast Reconstruction
PRMA Performs 5,000th Free Flap Breast Reconstruction July 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Congratulations are in order this morning as PRMA celebrates its 5000th free flap breast reconstruction – a milestone the whole team is smiling about! “This is a huge accomplishment for us,” says PRMA co-founder Dr. Peter Ledoux. “We started out […]
PRMA Performs Record Breaking 60 DIEP Flaps in April
Reducing Stress Before Breast Reconstruction
Anonymous
Kathryn, I am blessed to have met you. Knowing someone else who did this from out of town, seeing you as I recovered in the hospital…. You were so positive and gave me so much strength. I wish you and your husband the brightest future ever. We’re both so lucky to be under the gentle, skillful care of Dr. C!
Xochitl
I want to do the brca 1 and 2 testing. I have humana ins. Please contact me if you accept Humana.
PRMA Plastic Surgery
Hello Xochitl! I commend you for wanting to proceed with the gene testing. It is always encouraging to see women being proactive with their healthcare. Unfortunately, we do not do the testing at our office. I would recommend contacting your primary care doctor for a referral. If you do discover you are BRCA positive and are interested in prophylactic mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, please let us know! Best of luck to you!