Jessica McMackin
Better Plans for the Future: One Test that Saved Two Sisters' Lives
At 35-years old, breast cancer was the furthest thing from Jessica McMackin’s mind. Her husband, Joel, and two teenage kids had just moved into their dream home that the couple designed and built themselves in Chattaroy, WA. For Jessica, perusing Pier 1, agonizing over paint chips and decorating the new space was an enjoyable and all-consuming task.
Five months prior to the big move, Jessica had noticed a lump in her left breast while performing a monthly self-breast exam. Preferring to dedicate her time to installing hardwood floors rather than setting an appointment with her OB-GYN, she convinced herself it wasn’t anything, or at least anything that had to be checked earlier than her regular annual exam.
Jessica stayed busy through the holidays, and then came time for her annual appointment. She casually mentioned about feeling a lump to her doctor and asked him to examine it. He recommended that she have a mammogram, just to be safe.
“With my good health and young age, he was very hopeful that it wouldn’t be anything,” says Jessica.
A few days later, the results came back as questionable. Jessica proceeded to have a digital MRI, which takes more precise images than a mammogram, and also a needle biopsy, to determine if the lump was cancerous. The breast radiologists guided her through what turned out to be painless and quick procedures. After four days, she was anxious to receive the results. She received the call on February 17, 2009.
“My doctor told me that I had breast cancer. It felt like I had been hit by a truck…I couldn’t even breathe,” says Jessica. “I was in absolute shock! My life flashed before my eyes – my kids, Joel, our life together…how could I have breast cancer?”
Jessica was referred to see Dr. Stephanie Moline, a breast oncology surgeon at Cancer Care Northwest. In less than one week, she and her husband Joel were sitting nervously in Dr. Moline’s office, waiting to meet the highly recommended physician who would hopefully guide her through this terrifying journey and into remission.
Jessica describes Dr. Moline as the kind of physician any woman needs to have when facing cancer. “Dr. Moline is very soft-spirited and compassionate, yet direct. She wanted to get to the bottom of why I had cancer at 35 and develop an effective treatment plan quickly, before the cancer spread.”
After discussing Jessica’s family health history and test results, Dr. Moline wanted Jessica to meet Cancer Care Northwest physician Dr. Joni Nichols, a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer. Dr. Nichols also performs genetic breast cancer testing, or BRCA Analysis. With a grandfather and great-grandfather previously diagnosed with male breast cancer, there certainly was a chance that she could be carrying a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
A BRCA Analysis is a blood test that identifies mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in one of these genes cause most cases of heredity breast and ovarian cancer often before the age of 50. These mutations are inherited from a mother or father, be shared with siblings, and can be passed on to children. 5-10% of breast cancer diagnoses are hereditary breast cancers.
If diagnosed with having a mutated BRCA gene, the chance of developing certain cancers is high. Those with the gene have a 56-87% of being diagnosed with breast cancer; 27-44% chance of ovarian cancer and 48-64% of having a second breast cancer. Knowing the results of this test can allow patients to take steps to reduce their risk for future cancers.
Jessica agreed to take the test and completed it during her first appointment. After waiting three weeks for the results, she tested positive for a mutation in the BRCA2 gene.
The findings didn’t surprise Drs Moline or Nichols. Working together, they developed a treatment plan to remove the cancer, including a lumpectomy, where the tumor is removed, and an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, to ensure any other cancer cells were killed before they could spread.
Jessica is now taking steps to ensure the cancer doesn’t return. She began by having a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in June. In September, she had her ovaries removed. Both preventive surgeries significantly reduce the risk of ovarian and new breast cancer. She will begin taking the drug tamoxifen, which also is shown to reduce the risk of recurrent breast cancer.
The results of the test not only saved her life, but her 30-year old sister’s too. After learning the results of Jessica’s BRCA Analysis, Kim took the test and sought testing for breast cancer. She tested positive for the same mutation in the BRCA2 gene, and also learned she had a small breast cancer. Kim is now completing the same cancer treatment as Jessica, and then will determine what preventive steps she needs to take for herself.
“Early detection, not being afraid of the unknown and maintaining a positive attitude is the key to beating cancer. Without this test and the expertise of my care team at Cancer Care Northwest, I could face cancer again. And that’s not something I am planning on in my future,” says Jessica.