PEMBROKE PARK,, Fla. – For 30-year-old Candace Frederick, time with family is now more precious than ever.
Two years ago, her life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I had this sharp pain in my left armpit, but it would come and go,” Frederick recalled.
Additional symptoms, including nipple bleeding, prompted a biopsy that revealed ductal carcinoma in situ, a stage 0 form of breast cancer. Initially, doctors planned a simple lumpectomy, but genetic testing changed everything.
Tammy Adar, manager of the Genetic Counselor Program at Memorial Hospital, explained that recent advancements in genetic testing now allow testing of 50 to 80 genes simultaneously, including 12 specific to breast cancer, at a much lower cost.
With the testing, Frederick learned she carries the BRCA2 gene mutation, prompting doctors to conduct further screenings that revealed her cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. This led to a more aggressive treatment plan, including chemotherapy, a mastectomy, radiation, and hormone therapy.
“Chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and then I had radiation, and now I do hormone therapy,” Candace said of her treatment journey.
Frederick’s age and family history made her a good candidate for genetic testing.
Though learning about a genetic mutation can be daunting, Adar noted, it can also be life-saving.
“Not everyone with a genetic mutation will get cancer, but when we know, we can do earlier or more frequent screenings to catch it earlier and better treat and cure it,” she said.
After a year of remission, Frederick says she feels “fantastic.” Looking back, she remembers her care team offering hope from the start.
“One thing I can say is I never felt scared. The care team let me know this isn’t a death sentence. Not terminal. We are going to give you the best care we can. You are going to ring the bell… and I did twice!” she said with a smile.
Equipped with her genetic information, Frederick now plans to have her ovaries removed after having children to reduce her future cancer risk further.
For those interested in genetic testing, Adar advises that many labs now offer the service at about $250 for those without insurance coverage.