FRIDAYS FOR FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered): About Us

FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered): About Us:



'via Blog this'

Just browsing through the FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered Website and was reminded of a very important segment that is offered, The Patient Experience Tool.

Ask yourself, how many times do you ask about a good book to read or which restaurant to try? Always asking for referrals from family and for important and inconsequential matters? Of course you do! So what would make choosing a Breast or Plastic Surgeon, hospital or genetics counselor any different?

This service is provided for and by volunteers and members of FORCE. Their personal opinions are there for anyone to take with them in helping to make an informed decision about their next step in dealing with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancers. I myself have also provided information and very glad to share through my blog as well:

Fox Chase Cancer Center and Margaret Dyson/FRAP (Family Risk Assessment Program) is where I went for my BRCA testing (tested positive for BRCA2 in 1996) with Dr. Mary Daly.

(http://goo.gl/yDN6j for more info)

Abington Memorial Hospital (AMH) is my choice for surgery, especially since my doctors are on staff there. (http://goo.gl/YppSz)

Dr. Christopher Pezzi, also at AMH, Oncologic Surgeon, also a friend of mine. When he suggested surgery, I listened up since I knew he really had my best interest at heart. Moreover, he is a brilliant surgeon and has a wonderful reputation. (http://goo.gl/lgLQu)

Dr. Brian Buinewicz, Chief of Plastic Surgery at AMH. I cannot say enough about Dr. B! I had a rough journey with lots of setbacks and he and his staff were supportive and professional. (http://goo.gl/MduAR)

Betty Cummings, RN: She is the light of AMH in connection with Breast Cancer Support. She appeared at my hospital room door one morning and reached out to me with advice and help. Her information can be found on this url: http://goo.gl/f1y0B. Also on this page are links to "Look Good Feel Better" program by American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club at AMH and plenty of other information.

Remember, all these recommendations are totally subjective. Please! Remember this caveat for me and especially FORCE:

This website and the Registry service are for individual educational use only. Nothing on this site is or should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or other information that could only be obtained by a face to face interview with a health care service provider. Any listing of a health care service provider’s information and/or views expressed in connection with submission of such information is solely the view of the Submitter and does not reflect the position of FORCE nor is anything on this website to be deemed an endorsement of any such doctor or health care service provider by FORCE. Use of any such doctor or health care service provider is engaged in by you at your own risk.

Love and hugs,


Beth

22 Years Later

February 19, 1989. It was a cold and very rainy day. I truly believed that the angels up above were crying along with us as our family buried my father. His death certificate stated that he died from Hepatic failure. His liver could not hold out against all of the chemicals pumped in over the course of chemotherapy he received during his five year bout with breast cancer.

A man with breast cancer? Yes, my father was diagnosed with breast cancer. What was really amazing medically was that in the year 1984, the oncologist my father saw had four other men with breast cancer at our small (in those years) local hospital. Every week, my dad had an infusion of chemo as well as taking tamoxifen. Even though the doctor told my parents that dad was only expected to live for 6 months, he fought valiantly for 10 times that prediction.

Today, he would have received dose dense chemotherapy and maybe even radiation. What he went through seems so antiquated compared to today's therapies. Due to his bout with breast cancer, I was tested at Fox Chase Cancer Center and routinely participate in the Margaret Dyson Family Risk Assessment Center (now known as the Risk Assessment Program, http://www.fccc.edu/prevention/riskAssessment/staff.html). My father's frozen tissue sample from his original pathology and my blood samples determined that we both carried the BRCA2 genetic mutation. In 1996 when I found out this information, I received concise and informative genetic counseling as do all participants in the RAP at FCCC. We mapped out a plan of action and so far, as I have followed it, I am cancer-free even having discovered that I was at Stage 0 with DCIS at the time of my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy.

My father's death was a horrible experience but through it and less than 10 years later, I was able to avoid what my breast surgeon had told me was a certain outcome; it was only a matter of time before breast cancer would rear its ugly head within my body.

So as I recite the Kaddish prayer during my dad's Yahrzeit, I miss him very much and probably spend at least a week being miserable and unhappy at the loss of a most wonderful man, father, son, uncle and cousin. However, his legacy genetically has helped those he left behind with a knowledge that allows us to overcome the high risk of disease that has plagued the family through several generations.

If not for Dr. Daly at FCCC and the support and information at FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (www.facingourrisk.org) I may not even had gotten to age 51 and sitting here writing about genetics and breast cancer! Thank you Dadddy. Though you have missed meeting your grandchildren and other new family members, because of your sacrifice and love, we remember you at this yearly celebration of your life.

Love and special hugs,
Beth