Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman announced Monday that she underwent a double mastectomy in part because of a significant family history of cancer. Michael Gosky is a senior oncology genetic counselor at UK’s Markey Cancer Center. He said Coleman’s statement could lead to other Kentuckians having important family chats.
“Especially at this point in the year, you know, when we're wrapping stuff up, and we might be spending a little bit more time with our family this holiday season, I think it's important to have open, honest, candid conversations regarding your own personal health, but also the health of family members.”
The lieutenant governor’s statement included a reminder of the importance of preventative exams, which Gosky said set a beautiful example. He said he has good news for many of the patients he speaks to.
“So when I meet with people, right, and they say, Hey, I've got this family history of these people being diagnosed with cancer, right, I like to be a little bit more reassuring and saying that, right, only five to 10% are hereditary.”
Gosky said hereditary cancers involve two or more generations of people on the same side of the family diagnosed with the same or similar types of cancer.
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