[John H[_2_]]

On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:29:57 -0400, BAR wrote:

In article ac2e9a6b-d938-43ad-849a-
, says...
Great Cause, and I will contribute. *I hope you don't mind if I amend
the subject header

You've obviously never been close to someone suffering from breast
cancer. *Otherwise, you'd know it's about saving lives, not tits.

Maybe you should listen a little harder when they say "I'm a breast
cancer survivor."

Saving the 'Ta-Ta's is a common theme among breast cancer survivors.
My daughter has a license plate saying much the same. It's about
saving lives *and* Ta-Ta's. Will you also tell me I've never been
close to someone with breast cancer.


It's interesting when people start pontificating about about breast
cancer. They type my younger sister came up with at the age of 42 was a
genetic form with an 80% recurrence rate within 5 years. She was at
stage 4. She opted for the most radical treatment, bi-lateral radical
mastectomy, to ensure that the cancer did not reoccur.

Then about 18 months later my older sister was found to have the same
form of breast cancer. She was lucky because her's was at stage 3. She
opted for the most radical treatment too because the recurrence rate was
still 80% within 5 years.

So, JPS, when you talk about it not being about saving the ta-tas you
are wrong. You are completely wrong. If you developed testicular cancer
at the age of 30 and they had to cut off your balls leaving you a unic
your view would be different.

Early detection and treatment of breast cancer is important.

That's a shame about your sisters. I'm sorry for them. It sounds like it could
have been hereditary. There is a test for the gene called the BRAC1 and/or BRAC2
which identify those with a higher probability of developing breast cancer:

"In 1994, the first gene associated with breast cancer - BRCA1 (for BReast
CAncer1) was identified on chromosome 17. A year later, a second gene associated
with breast cancer - BRCA2 - was discovered on chromosome 13. When individuals
carry a mutated form of either BRCA1 or BRCA2, they have an increased risk of
developing breast or ovarian cancer at some point in their lives. Children of
parents with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a 50 percent chance of inheriting
the gene mutation."

http://www.genome.gov/page.cfm?pageID=10000507

My younger daughter wants to be tested, but there are then problems with
insurance if the tests prove positive. Plus, the tests are expensive as hell.