One woman’s story

A breast cancer diagnosis at 38 made Tualatin’s Julie Gillaspy a believer in early mammograms

The Times, Jan 21, 2010, Updated Jan 27, 2010

SUBMITTED

JULIE GILLASPY

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The recent announcement by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that the harm from routine screening mammography generally outweighs the benefits for most women in their 40s, alarmed breast cancer survivors and experts in the field, such as those at Northwest Cancer Specialists.

Tualatin resident and Northwest Cancer Specialists patient Julie Gillaspy discovered, at the age of 38, that she had breast cancer. Not only does her story provide a timely reminder that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate based on age, it also emphasizes the support that is available in the community to help women when they discover something as life-changing as breast cancer.

In the wake of the recent changes to mammogram guidelines, it’s important to underscore the fact that early screening and detection can be of great value, insist the folks at Northwest Cancer Specialists. Gillaspy’s personal story does just this while highlighting the importance of genetic testing. Her experience with breast cancer can now help to guide her own family’s screening practice in the future, and that’s why she agreed to share it with Times readers.

Northwest Cancer Specialists has seven locations in the Portland-Vancouver area, including the Meridian Park Office, at 19260 S.W. 65th Ave., Suite 435, Tualatin 97062 (503-692-2032), and the St. Vincent Office, at 9555 S.W. Barnes Road, Suite 150, Portland 97225-6625 (503-297-7403). For more information, visit www.nwcancer.com.

Editor's note: After this story was published, Gillaspy's doctor thought it was important to clarify some of the points she made in the interview. The new information is presented in italics below the related questions.

Tell us a little bit about your personal story.

In February of 2008, I discovered a lump in my left breast. After a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, I was told it was cancer. I was introduced to Dr. Langer. She was referred to me by my primary care physician, the clinic across from the Rose Garden. The first appointment with her was at least an hour. She’s a wonderful balance of the doctor and the personal touch. I was in a whirlwind of emotions and didn’t know what to expect. It was at that first meeting that Dr. Langer brought up the genetic testing. At that point, I was 38 and so didn’t fit the typical profile.

What’s the typical profile of a woman with breast cancer?

Someone over the age of 50, typically. I was adopted and, although I know my birth mother, I didn’t have a full genetic history or background. Dr. Langer asked if I would consider doing the testing. I consented to that, and as it turned out, I do have BRCA 2 (the gene known to cause breast cancer).

Note: Although the typical profile is someone over the age of 50, people at genetic risk can be diagnosed much younger. It is a mutation to the BRCA2 gene that causes the cancer, rather than the gene itself.

When you learn something like that, what’s going through your mind?

It’s funny, because The Oregonian had just done a huge article about this family that was part of the BRCA testing, and they had chased it back. I had no idea about it, hadn’t heard about it and then shortly after I read the article, I’m talking to a doctor about it. So, I was thinking, I’m 38 and have breast cancer. You start Googling things on the Internet, and it’s the worst thing you can do. And that’s when Dr. Langer gave me some reference Web sites to look at, she pointed me in the right direction, gave me good resources. She said don’t go Google this because you’re inundated with information . . . There’s a specific sequence of genes that puts you at a higher risk factor for breast cancer. I’m missing a gene on one of the chromosomes. I’m missing a partner on one of the genes.

Note: There are known mutations in specific genes that put one at a higher risk for breast cancer. Gillaspy has one of these mutations. One copy of her BRCA2 gene has a mutation, and it only takes one copy with a mutation to put someone at high risk.

Why do genetic testing when you already had breast cancer?

Because of my age, it put me at a higher risk for recurring. I had a decision to make; I could either have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. The gene gave me the decision. I had a 50 percent risk factor of it coming back or going into another breast. So I did chemotherapy while I was waiting for the genetic test results.

Note: A person with a mutation has a 50 to 60 percent risk of a second breast cancer.