For Rivka From and her daughters Carlye and Courtney, genetic testing at UNC provided them with “an opportunity to live an amazing life,” Rivka says.
A Raleigh-based life coach, From was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2004. Because her mother had died of ovarian cancer, doctors recommended testing for the BRCA mutation before beginning treatment.
“If I tested negative, the treatment would be chemo or radiation,” Rivka recalls. “If it was positive, they suggested a mastectomy. When the test came back positive, I had a bilateral mastectomy and oophorectomy. Cleaned me right out.”
But the result did more than impact her treatment. “It was a no-brainer for my daughters,” she says. “We had to get them tested.” Both have the mutation.
“I want to know so I can take preventive actions,” says Courtney, who also lives in Raleigh. “My mother and grandmothers didn’t have the chance for testing and all developed cancer–fortunately Mom is alive and thriving, but I never had the opportunity to meet my grandmothers as they passed in their 40s.”
For Carlye, a student at Meredith College, the results helped her take action to improve her overall health and lower her cancer incidence. She now has regular screening and exams with her doctor, eats healthier foods, exercises regularly and takes a low-dose birth control pill to reduce her risk of developing ovarian cancer.
The Froms have become activists for genetic cancer screening, calling themselves The Gene Girls. They speak at events and find any opportunity to spread the word.
“To live with the not-knowing for us would be far more painful than the actual knowing of it,” Rivka says. “We’ve all got some genetic mutations. We are blessed to know about this vulnerability. If you know, you can go about taking care of yourself.”
The Gene Girls were featured on NBC-17 in February of 2007.