The Inheritance: A Conversation with Regina and Gabrielle Brett

Posted Wednesday, June 11, 2008

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At the age of 23, Gabrielle Brett learned she had a gene that would likely cause her to get breast cancer. Five years later, she didn't have cancer, but she didn't have her breasts, either. She decided for a preventive double mastectomy. Her mother Plain Dealer Columnist Regina Brett writes about it in the Plain Dealer this week. The Brett women and two medical professionals will join us on the Sound of Ideas. You can get your question in early with an email to . Join us Wednesday morning at nine on 90.3.

Guests

Gabrielle Brett, Program Coordinator, National Cancer Institute, Cancer Information Service
Regina Brett, Columnist, The Plain Dealer
Dr. Georgia Wiesner, Director of the Center for Human Genetics at University Hospitals
Dr. Diane Zuckerman Ph.D, President, National Research Center for Women and Families

Additional Information

The Gathering Place will host a free forum called "The Legacy of Inheritance: When there is a history of breast cancer." It will be at 7 p.m. on July 7 at the Gathering Place in Beachwood. Panelists include Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett and her daughter Gabrielle Brett, partnership program coordinator for the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service. Also joining them are Dr. Georgia Wiesner and Duane Culler from the Center for Human Genetics at University Hospitals and Kim Day, social worker for University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center. To register call 216-595-9546. For information on The Gathering Place, go to www.touchedbycancer.org

You can find a great deal of information about cancer risks associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2, various management options, and some information about mastectomy with or without reconstruction at the FORCE website.

Prophylactic or Optional Mastectomies By Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D
Mastectomy v. Lumpectomy: Who Decides? By Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D
DCIS, LCIS, Pre-Cancer and other "Stage Zero" Breast Conditions: Are Women Getting Mastectomies They Don't Need? By Susan Dudley, Ph.D and Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D

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