Drastic Decision to Prevent Cancer

By Beth Malicki, Anchor/Reporter

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Nov 25, 2008 at 5:04 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 25, 2008 at 5:33 PM CST

JOHNSON COUNTY - Preventative medicine usually means getting annual physicals, eating healthy food and exercising. But there's a new way to avoid deadly diseases that is as extreme as it is effective. An Iowa City woman had to make a choice that would change her body, even before she gets sick.

Since Robert and Dana met, they knew they wanted to spend a lifetime together.

"We've been married over 10 years now and you know what, I'd like to make it another 50 at least," said Robert Conrad, husband.

But in Dana's family, women are lucky to make it past 40.

"My mom's a two time cancer survivor," said Dana Conrad. "Hers was third stage and they removed a volleyball sized tumor and she had her yearly exam four months prior and was given a clean bill of health."

Many of the people in Dana's family carry a gene that has an 85 percent chance of causing breast cancer and a 50 percent chance of ovarian cancer. So this mother of two, who has never had cancer, is taking drastic steps to reduce her risk.

"I want to see them get married and I want to go through those horrible teenage years and -ugh- all the stuff that comes with it," said Dana.

At the age of 36 she's giving up the hope of more children and has decided to let doctors remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes. She'll immediately go into surgical menopause.

"You think about those changes there are changes some people would say aren't good what about the change of your wife not being here?" Said Robert.

Their daughters have a strong likelihood of having the same gene mutation. When they're 18 they can decide if they want genetic testing.

Even at age 8, Delaney Conrad understands her mother's choice, that may one day be her choice.

"So that I can spend more time with my family when I grow up instead of being away from them," said Delaney Conrad.

After the surgery Dana is without her body's natural estrogen, she's battled mood swings and hot flashes, and is at a greater risk of osteoporosis.

Today she has half her previous risk of getting breast cancer, and has less than a one -percent chance of getting ovarian cancer.

"This surgery was one of those things that I, for myself, needed to do, and wanted to do and got to the right place in my life where I wanted to do it," said Dana.

A choice that took years to consider, in the hopes of adding years to her life.

Dana Conrad found out about her particular cancer risk through a program at Creighton University. She joined a study about families that have high incidents of cancer. Her insurance paid for the surgery.

Visit the links above (in the 'Related Content' section) to find out more about this genetic testing.

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