NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Like other ailments, family history is a common risk factor when it comes to breast cancer, but a lack of family history doesn’t put you in the clear.
Wendy Whedbee was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer last February. The call had her in shock.
“And I know I had to — it took me a moment to just get my breath and say ‘really?’ They said, ‘Were you expecting that? And I was like, ‘No, I was not expecting that,” Whedbee said. “That was the last thing I was expecting to hear.'”
Whedbee had had calcifications in her breasts before. All had been benign and removed. She had no family history of breast cancer, period.
“That’s one of the reasons I dilly-dallied around with it from November to February,” Whedbee said.
In this day and age, a lack of family history does not automatically rule out a diagnosis.
“One in eight women will get breast cancer, right? That is the national average just based off of being born female in America today,” said Sentara Oncology Nurse Navigator Vanessa Rizzie said.
Rizzie said she sees it happen quite often.
“Family history is only one piece of the puzzle,” Rizzie said.
Christine Ladd, Sentara’s Oncology Service line manager, said her mother was 39 when she found a lump but was told by a doctor it was probably nothing.
However …
“She demanded a second opinion, which is pretty unique I think for women, especially in the military,” Ladd said.
Ladd’s mother had to leave her and her three siblings in Japan to see a doctor in the U.S. and was diagnosed with breast cancer — with no family history. Luckily, she was able to participate in clinical trials, which extended her life for 10 more years.
“I think her participation in those clinical trials are what changed the landscape for breast cancer treatment now,” Ladd said. “Now we see patients that can live very, very long, happy, productive lives because of what my mom had gone through years and years ago. So, it kind of reaffirms the commitment that I have to oncology and seeing, even though she’s not here, she still is.”
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“Get your mammogram whether you think you’re susceptible or not in that regard,” Whedbee said.
For a list of risk factors, visit the CDC’s website.