Louise Wright (right) with her mother (left (Image: NC )
Decades later as her daughters Rosie 67, who was just eight when her mother died, Tizzy, 64, Jenny, 70, and Paddy, 71, met for a family reunion party along with retired pharmacist Rosie’s daughter Louise Wright, 40, they confessed their worries about the disease being hereditary.
Within weeks of the reunion in October 2015, Tizzy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, sparking fresh fears that every female in the family could be carrying it.
Devastating Hotel sales and marketing director Louise, 40, from Leeds, said: “We all knew following Aunt Tizzy’s diagnosis that we needed the gene test but I was married, had a high-flying career and two wonderful sons George and Jack who were just six and four.
“Everything was great, there was no way on earth I could have cancer or some deadly gene?”
It was devastating news but I didn’t give it a second thought. My boys needed me more than I needed my boobs so having them removed was a complete no-brainer.
But Louise’s mother and her aunt Jenny took the test and the results came back putting them at high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Louise was then tested and received the same grim prognosis.
Louise instantly opted to undergo preventative surgery.
She said: “It was devastating news but I didn’t give it a second thought. My boys needed me more than I needed my boobs so having them removed was a complete no-brainer.”
But ahead of her planed operation, an MRI showed Louise had a highly aggressive grade three tumour.
From left, four sisters Paddy, Tizzy, Rosie and Jenny whose family reunion led to life-saving cancer (Image: NC )
Louise added: “It was so deep there had been no tell-tale lump but my life was in serious danger.”
Just days later her mother Rosie telephoned from her home in Hertfordshire to say: “I’ve got it too.”
That cancer was in her ovaries and was also discovered during preparation for precautionary surgery.
Jenny was found to have ovarian cancer. Only eldest sibling Paddy escaped. Louise said: “Inside eight weeks me, my mum and two aunts had gone from all living busy normal lives to being confined to hospital beds.”
Having already lost her hair to gruelling bouts of chemotherapy,
Louise Wright after treatment with boys George and Jack (Image: NC)
Louise had surgery for a double mastectomy and ovary removal at St James’ Hospital in Leeds. But as she recovered from reconstructive surgery she developed a severe infection plunging her into intensive care. Medics saved her life but as she slowly recuperated she suffered a fresh blow when her marriage of 13 years ended.
Four months later she got confirmation her cancer was in remission. Her only worry is that her sons may be carrying the gene and could potentially pass it on to any daughters.
Louise added: “Amazingly me, mum and Aunt Jenny are all in remission while Aunt Tizzy is having chemotherapy but will have to live with her disease. The boys will need to be tested when they are old enough.”
Louise is now calling on the Government to introduce testing for all people who have had two or more relatives diagnosed with either breast or ovarian cancer.
She said: “This isn’t about saving money it’s about saving lives but, in my case, one blood simple test could have found the gene a long time ago.
“The treatment cost for me alone must run into hundreds of thousands so it makes sense to the NHS, too.
“If Aunt Tizzy had not found her cancer when she did, then none of us would have been tested.”
Louise and other mums have organised fundraising event Jog on Cancer in Leeds on Sunday September 16 for Yorkshire Cancer Care.
To support or sign-up, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jogoncancerhorsforth
Comment by Marie-Claire Platt head of campaigns at Ovarian Cancer Action
Ovarian cancer is the biggest gynaecological killer, with 7,300 women diagnosed with it each year in Britain.
Fifteen per cent of these ovarian cancers will be hereditary – caused by genetic mutations that raise the risk of cancers being passed down through families.
These include BRCA gene mutations and Lynch Syndrome.
They can be inherited from a mother or father and there is a 50/50 chance of parents who have a gene mutation passing it on.
Marie-Claire Platt, Head of Operations and Campaigns, Ovarian Cancer Action (Image: NC)
One in 400 will carry a BRCA mutation although this figure is significantly higher for certain backgrounds, such as Ashkenazi Jewish and Scandinavian.
Scary Many will have heard of BRCA gene mutations thanks to actress and film-maker Angelina Jolie, who shared her story about having the problem.
BRCA gene mutations greatly raise the risk of ovarian, breast, prostate and other cancers. This may sound scary but if you know you carry a mutation, you can take steps to prevent getting them.
Men and women can access early and additional screening for breast cancer that can detect any cancer at the earliest possible stage. Women can also have risk-reducing surgeries on their breasts and ovaries that reduce the chances of developing these cancers from up to 90 per cent to less than five per cent.
When someone in a family has been found to carry a BRCA gene mutation, relatives can also be tested and access screening and cancer risk-reducing options.
If you know you have a gene mutation, you can also access fertility treatments on the NHS that can ensure you don’t pass on the gene to the next generation.
For those who already have cancer, knowing if you have a mutation is extremely important.
Certain drugs that significantly prolong the time patients are “cancer free” between treatments have been made available across the UK for woman with ovarian cancer – but only for those who have had a BRCA test.
Ovarian Cancer Action has developed a hereditary cancer risk assessment. It takes just a few minutes and could equip you with the right information to save your life and can be found at https:// ovarian.org.uk/risktool/
