[Jackie07]

To Laurel and Paula: 'Top left'(the usual 'Point-guard' positon in both pictures.

To Paula: I had requested for genetic testing after seeing many of our members on this Board have had the tests done. My oncologist reluctantly agreed (I'd had two surgeries each for both brain tumors and breast cancer already, plus Mother had been treated for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1998) to my request for genetic testing in early 2009. The result was a 'BRCA1-Variant of unknown significance' and the genetic counselor in the hospital told me that my risks was higher than normal, but not to worry too much. It all changed when I learned about 2nd Brother's colon cancer (my family overseas had kept the news from me for several months) later that year. I put the 4 cancers together and located a cluster called HNPCC (Hereditory Non-polyposis Colon Cancer.) Recalling 2nd Brother had mentioned that his colon cancer was unusually 'big', I made an appointment with a gynecologist and eventually was referred to a gynecological surgeon.

There was a twist during the process: my surgery was postponed because a special 'ring' used in the procedure http://www.pelvichealthsolutions.com...y-laparoscopic had been recalled. There were only 3 good ones (of a different brand) left before the hospital could get more supplies. Hoping to be one of the three patients to get it, I called my family doctor and was given a lecture that I shouldn't have had such 'anxiety' over a prophylactic procedure. He wanted me to get a 2nd opinion! So I called my oncologist and he agreed that I should proceed with it... So I had the procedure done almost exactly a month from the orginally scheduled date.