Pages

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Nursery worker, 23, with cancer gene has double mastectomy after disease killed mother and grandfather


Aged just 23, beautiful and engaged to be married - Fiona Luscombe shouldn't have a care in the world. Instead she has taken the decision to undergo painful and potentially dangerous surgery to completely alter her body and have both breasts removed. But the nursery worker feels she has been left with no other option, such is her fear of having to endure the horrendous battle, which her mother and grandfather lost to breast cancer.

Fiona LuscombeNo choice: Fiona Luscombe felt she had no option but to have the double mastectomy after discovery she had the hereditary cancer gene
No choice: Fiona Luscombe, 23, (pictured before her operation left) felt she had no option but to have the double mastectomy. She had both breasts removed and had the implants put in at the same time (pictured after surgery right)


Aged just 23, beautiful and engaged to be married - Fiona Luscombe shouldn't have a care in the world. Instead she has taken the decision to undergo painful and potentially dangerous surgery to completely alter her body and have both breasts removed. But the nursery worker feels she has been left with no other option, such is her fear of having to endure the horrendous battle, which her mother and grandfather lost to breast cancer. 'I’ve grown up with cancer really,' she said. 'I think it’s harder mentally that I thought it would be but I couldn’t sit on it. I had to sort myself out.' 'I didn’t fully understand the full extent of it when I was younger but when it came back mum was given six months to live and that was true to the day. She was very organised. She arranged her own funeral and she helped us get through it. I was devastated when I found out I had the gene, totally gutted and it took a long time to get my head around it. As soon as I got the test result I couldn’t sit on it.’

Miss Luscombe said there was 'never any doubt' in her mind about what she would do if the test for the gene mutation was positive. 'Even though I have the gene I wouldn’t have been scanned until I was 30 and I couldn’t wait that long. After I got the result I think I was traumatised but then I became really focused. 'Mum had it when she was 32 years old. I’m 23 and I just couldn’t risk it.'
 Memories: Fiona Luscombe's painful experiences watching her grandfather Frank Ross, pictured, and mother Brenda suffer cancer influenced her decision to have both breasts removed
Memories: Fiona Luscombe's painful experiences watching her grandfather Frank Ross, pictured, and mother Brenda suffer cancer influenced her decision to have both breasts removed
Tragedy: Fiona Luscombe's mother Brenda battled breast cancer which later spread to her lymph nodes, liver and bones. She died aged 48
Tragedy: Fiona Luscombe's mother Brenda battled breast cancer which later spread to her lymph nodes, liver and bones. She died aged 48

Her agonising story emerges just as former pop star Michelle Heaton has chronicled her own experiences having a double mastectomy after being told she has the BRCA2 gene earlier this year. The mother-of-one came to the same decision as Miss Luscombe after doctors said she had an 85 per cent chance of developing breast cancer. She said at the time: 'I just think that preventative surgery is the best option for me. I'll do whatever it takes to be here for my child - that's the bottom line.' Miss Luscombe was referred to a consultant at Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth, before being transferred to St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle, Cornwall, and underwent surgery nine weeks ago.She said: 'It went really well but it was really daunting. Both breasts were removed at the same time. They removed all the tissue and put the implants in.'

Pretty: nursery worker Fiona Luscombe said she couldn't risk getting breast cancer after discovering she has the mutated gene BRCA2
Fear: Fiona Luscombe, 23, is scared she will succumb to breast cancer which killed her mother and grandfather
Fear: Fiona Luscombe, 23, decided to have a double mastectomy after discovering she carried a gene that greatly increased her chances of developing breast cancer early

She admitted the operation had been a test of her health and relationship with her fiance of seven years Chris Warn. 'I’m engaged and it has been a challenge. Chris doesn’t talk very much about it. If I’m happy with it then he’s happy with it. He was with me when my mum died so he understands. He’s had to do everything for me though.It hasn’t been easy.' Her father, Malcolm Luscombe, 63, retired from his fire officer job when Brenda was diagnosed and said he was 'very proud' of his daughter. He said: 'I think the hereditary problem goes back beyond her grandfather. It was a shock when he was diagnosed and just goes to show men can get it too. 'It was big decision for Fiona to have this operation - a big step. I'm proud of her for being brave enough to go through with it.'
 Devastated: Fiona Luscombe was distraught when she found out she had the cancer gene which killed her mother and grandfather

Devastated: Fiona, pictured on holiday in 2009, says the operation had tested her relationship with her finace

Scared: Former Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton has recently revealed her experience having a double mastectomy after also being told she has the BRCA2 gene
Scared: Former Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton has recently revealed her experience having a double mastectomy after also being told she has the BRCA2 gene

Supportive: Fiona Luscombe's fiance Chris Warn has backed her decision to have a double mastectomy
Supportive: Fiona Luscombe's fiance Chris Warn has backed her decision to have a double mastectomy

Miss Luscombe plans to return to her job at City College Plymouth Nursery in January once she is able to lift the children once again. Her sister Jenny, 26, has come back to Britain from Spain, where she is a teacher, to look after her. In the mean time she wants to raise awareness for people with hereditary breast cancer. 'I’m trying to do all I can by handing out leaflets and giving people the opportunity to speak to someone who has had their breasts removed and been through it,' she added.

BRCA 2: THE FAULTY GENE WHICH INCREASES CANCER RISK

A cell needs to have a number of mistakes in its genetic code before it becomes cancerous. 
Doctors call these mistakes faults or mutations. Most of these gene mutations develop during our lifetime. 
They can occur due to substances people come into contact with that cause cancer. Or they can happen because of mistakes that cells make when copying their genetic code before dividing into two new cells. 
Most of these abnormal cells die or are killed off by the immune system. It usually takes many years to gather enough genetic mistakes, so this is one of the reasons that cancer is generally more common as people get older.
But it is possible to be born with a gene fault that may increase the risk of cancer. This doesn't mean you will definitely get cancer. 
But it means that you are more likely to develop cancer than the average person.
Scientists have identified a number of these so-called 'cancer genes'.
The first genes to be found were BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 - women with these genes have a 50 to 80 per cent chance of getting breast cancer in their lifetime.
Only people with a strong family history of breast cancer can be tested for the gene.
Women who test positive can either have regular breast screenings, take a prevention drug which will reduces the risk or have surgery to remove their breasts (and possibly ovaries).
Source: Cancer Research UK

Source: Daily Mail UK 

Please share

21 comments:

  1. Thank you, I have recently been looking for info about this topic for a while and yours
    is the greatest I've found out till now. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain in regards to the supply?Visit my wesbite at liposuction hips

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or
    if you have to manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!Visit my website at szafki wiklinowe

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the helpful information you provide in your articles.
    I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
    I'm quite certain I'll learn a lot of new stuff right here!
    Best of luck for the next!Visit my site at karnisze quadrato venge

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello to every body, it's my first pay a quick visit of this web site; this web site includes awesome and in fact fine data designed for readers.Visit my website at laminate flooring 8mm

    ReplyDelete
  5. I blog quite often and I really appreciate your
    content. Your article has really peaked my interest.

    I am going to bookmark your website and keep checking for new
    information about once per week. I opted in for your Feed as well.
    Visit my website at ubezpieczenia turystyczne online allianz

    ReplyDelete
  6. whoah this blog is magnificent i really like studying your
    posts. Keep up the great work! You realize, lots of individuals are
    hunting round for this information, you can aid them greatly.
    Visit my website at szafki kuchenne 80

    ReplyDelete
  7. Currently it sounds like Drupal is the best blogging platform out there right now.
    (from what I've read) Is that what you are using on your blog?Visit my website at bike jumps for sale

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's very easy to find out any topic on net as compared to textbooks, as I found this article at this site.Visit polish website at księgi wieczyste vii wydział

    ReplyDelete
  9. Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to understand so much approximately this, such as
    you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you can do with a
    few percent to drive the message house a bit,
    but other than that, that is wonderful blog. An excellent read.
    I will certainly be back.Visit my website article at sofa 6900 airport road

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words
    in your article seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.
    I'm not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I'd post to let you know.

    The design and style look great though! Hope you get the problem
    solved soon. CheersVisit my website at nieruchomości lębork

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great article.Viist my website at leasing 3easy ride

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi there to all, as I am genuinely eager of reading this web site's post to be updated regularly. It carries pleasant stuff.Visit my website at ubezpieczenia mieszkania kraków

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This post posted at this web site is really fastidious.
    Visit my website at ,drzwi przeciwpożarowe wikipedia ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
    When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks
    fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it
    has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
    Other then that, superb blog!Visit my store at Karnisze Do zazdrostek

    ReplyDelete
  15. Its like you learn my thoughts! You appear to understand so much approximately
    this, like you wrote the e book in it or something.

    I feel that you can do with some p.c. to pressure the message home a little bit, however instead of that, this is excellent blog.
    An excellent read. I will definitely be back.Visit my website at projekty domów 2013

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is my first time go to see at here and i am truly impressed to read everthing at
    one place.Visit our polish website at ecommerce quotation

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yes! Finally something about upvc skirting boards newcastle upon tyne.
    Visit my website at laminate flooring 3 days

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have been surfing on-line more than three hours as of late,
    yet I by no means discovered any fascinating article like yours.
    It's pretty worth sufficient for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the internet will probably be a lot more helpful than ever before.Visit my website at projekty domów ign

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi everyone, it's my first pay a visit at this site, and piece of writing is in fact fruitful for me, keep up posting these articles or reviews.Visit my website at Bike online australia

    ReplyDelete
  20. You are so awesome! I do not think I have read a
    single thing like that before. So great to find somebody with some unique thoughts on this issue.
    Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This website is something
    that's needed on the web, someone with some originality!Visit my website at rolety portos

    ReplyDelete
  21. I pay a quick visit day-to-day a few web pages and information sites to read articles, except this
    web site provides feature based articles.Visit my website at obrusy na miarę

    ReplyDelete