The inheritance that rocked a family
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When Lara Mendonca was about 16, her Dad brought home some news about a family inheritance.
It was an inheritance which would change the course of both of their lives, but one neither of them wanted.
Lara’s Dad had inherited the BRCA2 gene mutation – most commonly associated with an increased risk of developing cancer.
The official data says women who have a mutated BRCA2 gene have about a 70 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and about a 15 per cent chance of developing ovarian cancer over their lifetime. Men have about a 25 per cent chance of developing prostate cancer and about a 4 per cent chance of developing breast cancer.
Angelina Jolie catapulted the gene mutation to public awareness in 2013 when she revealed she had undergone a double mastectomy after losing her mother to breast and ovarian cancer and testing positive to the BRCA1 gene.
Lara and her dad
For Lara’s dad, it was the diagnosis of breast cancer of his sister while she was in her 30s that prompted his genetic testing.
He was open with his diagnosis with Lara although genetic testing for the BRCA genes in Australia is not legal before the age of 18.
Lara remembers wanting to get tested straight away. By the time she turned 18 she had her genetic counselling and testing appointments booked and had already decided on her course of action. She wanted to get risk-rection surgery, beginning with a double mastectomy if she carried the gene.
It was a 50/50 chance.
“When I got my results back and I was positive for BCRA2 I knew in my head already that I was getting a risk-reduction surgery.”
Lara recalls her dad took it a lot harder than she did. “I think I was more worried about his mindset because it was that ‘I’ve given this horrible thing to my daughter’.”
But seven years on post-surgery and Lara has not looked back. She loves her new breasts and is confident in her body. So confident in fact that she is passionate about bodybuilding with an eye to competing on stage next year.
Lara and her mum (and rock). Photo by Hot Shots Photography
Lara says her family is far more relaxed about her facing the myriad issues surrounding BRCA2 and she feels a genuine sense of having taken control over her future.
She praises both parents for supporting her decision and says her mum was her rock during her surgery – which took place while her friends were busy celebrating 18ths, partying and starting university.
“She came to Sydney with me for my surgery and would stay from when visiting hours started until they finished if it wasn’t for her I think my recovery would of been a lot more of a struggle than what it was.”
Lara also praised the work of Inherited Cancers Australia (ICA) not-for-profit organisation which supports and educate those with inherited cancers, estimated to make up between 5-10 per cent of Australian cancer diagnoses. With the uptake of genetic testing continuing to increase every year, ICA has a growing number of people and families they support, without any Federal Government funding.
ICA spokeswoman Robyn Smith described inherited cancer sufferers as often being “forgotten”.
Lara and Robyn Smith from Inherited Cancers Australia. Both women have had double mastectomies to manage their BRCA 2 risk. While Lara has had her breasts reconstructed, Robyn has chosen to remain flat. Photo by Hot Shots Photography
“We are not (yet) sick but our cancer risk is so high that it is recommended we remove parts of our body.
“These families are disadvantaged by the one thing they can’t control – their genes. These families have emotional and financial trauma across many generations. In my education role at ICA, I empower high risk people with information to manage their cancer risk. We educate people, provide tools and resources and most importantly, connect them with a community of others who really ‘get it’.”
This includes checking in with Lara and her family. Lara, who works as an accountant, says she is happy.
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“Going forward now I have my plan in place and I’m ready for whatever is thrown my way,” she says.
“I’ve completed my risk-reduction breast surgery and once I’m finished having kids in the future I’ll book in to get my ovaries removed. I would also like to do IVF so I can remove the gene from the embryo and my children can live a happy stress-free life.”
She is happy and healthy and “so grateful that I’ve been able to take control over my own body.”
