Surgery dilemma of cancer gene sisters - BBC News

Bronagh Conlon cognizes only too well what it's wish life with cancer.

Two old age ago she establish a hunk in her right breast. It was malignant.

"The malignant neoplastic disease was aggressive and spreading - within hebdomads I had the hunk removed and entire node clearance," she says.

"The chemotherapy took its toll. I lost my hair and establish I had very small energy. It was a dark clip in my life."

But that was only the beginning of Bronagh's journey.

She took the determination to experience familial testing for a rare but deathly factor associated with breast and ovarian cancer.

That determination have changed not only Bronagh's life, but the lives of her four sisters.

They are all at assorted phases of familial testing which they believe will give them picks to assist them survive.

Like most siblings, the Conlon ses have got many things in common.

Born in County Armagh, they grew up on a farm and still share a love of the countryside.

At 45, Virgin Mary is the firstborn sister and Bernadette is the youngest at 40.

In between there's Caroline, Bronagh and Teresa.

All married with families, they are attractive women who are successful in their chosen professions. In fact on the outside they look to have got it all.

But ticking away inside their organic structures is the BRCA 1 gene.

So far four of the ses have got tested positive. Their blood brother Bernard, 38, have recently discovered he too is carrying the factor - this leaves of absence the firstborn of the sibs David, 46, and Mother Teresa to be tested.

In order to protect their organic structures from the depredations of malignant neoplastic disease they have got to take whether or not to maintain their breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Bronagh Conlon (pictured with her family) was the first of the five ses to experience familial testing

Keeping them intends they have got a 75% opportunity of developing breast malignant neoplastic disease at some phase in their lives. They also have got a 50% opportunity of developing ovarian cancer.

Bronagh was the first of the five ses to experience familial testing.

Her determination was precipitated by growing grounds of a mediocre household history.

Ten old age ago, her sister Virgin Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease have also claimed the lives of their grandma and one aunt.

Having tested positive for the factor within the past few months, Mary, Caroline and Bronagh have got now had their breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubings removed, everything that on the interior do them a woman.

Support for each other is vital, and through textual matters and telephone set phone calls they've shared their information and experiences, along with many tears.

From her place in Cymru and just years before the operation, Virgin Mary said she felt lucky that she knew about the factor she was carrying.

When Iodine got the news at first I was in denial, then there was this explosive meltdown

Bernie Conlon

"The coevals before us didn't, but we can now pre-empt it and seek and maximise our opportunities of surviving," she said.

"We are fortunate to have got got had our households so we are able to have the ovaries removed and take that hazard of malignant neoplastic disease developing. It's a long operation - eight hours under anesthetic panics the life of me. "

For Caroline and Bernie the journeying is slightly different, as neither of them have got had cancer.

Bernie have recently returned place from England to Armagh to be near to her household while undergoing surgery.

"There's no inquiry about it. Having seen what Bronagh went through and the treatment she had to endure, in some ways it just do my determination easier," she said.

"When Iodine got the news at first I was in denial, then there was this explosive meltdown

"It was like walking through golden syrup trying to acquire through mundane life."

None of the ses have taken the determination lightly, but typically they all hold they are doing it for their children.

Mary have two boys, Liam, 13 and 11-year-old Daniel.

She said: "I really desire to see them turn up and abash them at their weddings. If it's a life or decease determination - well I take life."

You can follow the Conlon family's narrative throughout this hebdomad on Good Morning Ulster.

On Tuesday, Marie-Louise Maureen Catherine Connolly will describe on how the ses have got come up through their surgery and their programs for the future.