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Women Face Tough Decisions After Cancer Diagnosis

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Aug 19, 2008 10:19 pm US/Central

Women Face Tough Decisions After Cancer Diagnosis

Reporting
Stephanie Lucero

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―

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Karl and Wanda Stutsman are both engineers, so when it comes to their children and making choices, they are very good at analyzing the data.

Eleven years ago, Wanda was diagnosed with breast cancer and she had a lumpectomy. But recently several members of her family turned up positive with BRCA1, the gene that can lead to breast and ovarian cancer.

BRCA1 is the same gene that actress Christina Applegate has. Even though Applegate only had cancer in one breast, she decided to have a double mastectomy, and the Emmy-nominated star is now talking publicly about her very personal choice.

"I didn't want to go back to the doctor every four months for testing and squishing and everything," she said. "I just kind of wanted to be rid of the whole thing, for me. And this was the choice that I made, and it was a tough one."

Wanda faces the same choice now. She can either have both breasts removed as a precautionary measure or wait to see if the cancer returns.

"I am at the same crossroads that Christina's at," Wanda said. "I had radiation, I had chemotherapy. It's a very survivable thing. We would catch it very early."

Wanda and her husband say they are making the decision with their children in mind.

Experts say BRCA1 is rare, but those who have it have a greater chance of getting cancer.