Motherhood After Mastectomy
- The Bachelor alum Lesley Anne Murphy explained on Instagram that she is not able to breastfeed her new baby, Nora Blanche, because she had a double mastectomy. She had the preventative surgery in 2017 after testing positive for BRCA2, which is a genetic mutation causing a high risk for developing breast and ovarian cancers.
- Murphy’s mother had breast cancer, and now the reality star is a proud “previvor” who uses her social media influence to educate other women. “After my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew I needed to be proactive about my health,” the new mom writes on her website.
- “If you have a BRCA mutation, you actually cannot repair that break,” an expert tells SurvivorNet. Therefore, those with BRCA mutations, or harmful variants within your DNA, should be more heavily monitored, with some choosing to have a preventative surgery like Murphy.
"I had a double mastectomy four years ago and am not able to breast-feed,” the reality TV star told a fan on Instagram. (When you remove both breasts, you are removing your milk ducts.) "Even if I was, we should all support everyone's unique feeding journey."
Read MoreThe new mom, who got engaged to the baby’s father last February, chronicled her delivery experience with an endearing video montage on her Instagram, showing tender moments just after meeting their new baby.
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Murphy shared a picture-perfect post of her family of three outside in the Arkansas snow. “I never want to forget these memories, these last few days or this immense high I've been riding,” she wrote in the caption.
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Since having her preventative double mastectomy, the “BRCA Previvor” as she calls herself, has been raising awareness about genetic testing for women. The brave new mom said that she now has a “1 percent chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer,” but admits that she has lost feeling in her breasts. It is important to weigh the options with your doctor if you are considering to follow in the “previvor” path.
BRCA Testing
Experts recommend discussing your family history with breast and ovarian cancer with your doctor, and whether you should conduct genetic testing to find out if you have a BRCA mutation. The mutation is a harmful variant in your DNA (genetic code). BRCA can be pronounced B-R-C-A, or some choose to say Brah-kuh.
Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Rebecca Arend, a professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, tells SurvivorNet that "if you have a BRCA mutation, you actually cannot repair that break." Therefore, those with BRCA mutations should be more closely monitored (especially women already diagnosed with breast cancer), and some should choose to have a preventative surgery like Murphy.
What is a BRCA Mutation?
When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
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