Birthdays During Cancer
- Original Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Camille Grammer applauds her mom’s strength in honor of her 73rd birthday.
- Grammer’s mother, Maureen Donatacci, is currently battling bladder cancer, and has previously been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and colon cancer.
- Like her mom, Grammer has faced two separate diagnoses of her own endometrial cancer in 2013 and skin cancer in 2017.
Grammer, now going by Meyer since remarrying after her divorce from Kelsey, toasted her mother, Maureen Donatacci, in honor of her 73rd birthday. It’s truly an impressive milestone. Donatacci is currently undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, and this isn’t Donatacci’s first brush with the disease. When she was 46-years old, she was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer and underwent a full hysterectomy as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Then, she faced colon cancer and later and bladder cancer, which she is currently receiving treatment for.
Read MoreCamille Grammer’s Own Cancer Journey
Grammer has stayed right by her mom’s side throughout her numerous battles with cancer. However, in 2013, Grammer embarked on her own cancer journey. She was diagnosed with stage II endometrial cancer, a type of uterine cancer. She underwent a “radical hysterectomy,” which is a surgery that removes her uterus and reproductive organs. Following the surgery, she went through chemotherapy and radiation, and was declared in remission.
Even though she successfully overcame endometrial cancer, Grammer faced a second diagnosis in 2017 that one for a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. The disease was caught early, and after going through surgery to remove the cancerous tumors, she was declared in remission.
Since her two separate bouts with cancer, and watching her mother battle the disease as well, Grammer has become an advocate in raising awareness about gynecological cancers.
When You Should Consider Genetic Testing For Cancer
Knowing your family history can be extremely valuable information before a cancer diagnosis since it can assess whether you’re at higher risk. In order to in-depth, and credible, information you should try to reach out to your family members and hear who exactly in your family has been diagnosed. In some cases, people will be considered “high risk” of a possible diagnosis if a first-relative, such as a parent or sibling, has faced cancer.
“It’s encouraged that you share what’s going on, both in your medical history with your family, as well as asking questions about what might be going on with your aunts, your uncles, your cousins, grandparents,” Rachel Webster, a genetic counselor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, tells SurvivorNet. “That’s going to make it a much easier process for your genetic counselor and your physician.”
Related: Is Genetic Testing Right for You?
After talking with your family, you may consider visiting a genetic counselor. These professionals help figure out what type of genetic testing may be most useful for a particular person and their family. For those who think this could be useful, the National Society of Genetic Counselors has resources on its website for locating a genetic counselor.
Rachel Webster explains why genetic counselors can help people determine their cancer risk
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