LOCAL Bridgetown resident and Equine Therapist Sietske Nobel is an inspirational cancer previvor with a difference.
Sietske doesn't have cancer, but at the age of only 36 years she has had to make the tough decision to undergo a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy so as to prevent cancer.
"I don't have cancer," Ms Nobel said.
"Last year I tested positive for mutations in the BRCA2 gene. Everyone has a BRCA2 gene, but if you have a mutation in that gene then it increases the chance of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, with a 65% chance of breast cancer occurring."
The BRCA2 gene is a human tumour suppressor gene, or more specifically a caretaker gene, which provides proteins that are essential for repairing damaged DNA in our bodies. If this gene is faulty, damaged DNA is not repaired properly, and this increases the risk of breast cancer.
"The advice for women with this faulty gene is to get a bilateral mastectomy to help prevent breast cancer, and the advice for women around 40 years of age with this faulty gene is to have a hysterectomy, due to the high risk of ovarian cancer. I am currently on the waiting list for this to happen," Ms Nobel said.
Ms Nobel has a long and devastating family history with cancer. After losing three of her aunts to cancer, when her cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 40s, Ms Nobel decided she should get tested. Dealing with this and finding support for her during these difficult times has been hard.
"I knew I was going to test positive and I wasn't ready to deal with it, so I waited a long time before I got myself tested," she said.
"Both my dad and I have tested positive to the faulty gene. It has been a very difficult time for us."
Ms Nobel says that while she knows she needs to undergo surgery, she is still going through a rollercoaster of emotions.
"Agreeing to have surgery is the best preventative measure to avoid my own cancer diagnosis," she said. "But having surgery without having physical signs of the illness is something I am still coming to terms with.
"And then it has been really hard to find the support, because you are not sick, so people think there is nothing wrong. But this was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, and it is a life changing decision."
After realising how difficult it was to find supportive services, Ms Nobel has decided to do some fundraising to help gain more awareness in the community and to provide funding for further research in this area.
Every dollar raised goes directly to the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research to acquire vital equipment needed for advancing breast and ovarian research programs in Western Australia.
"I am doing a walk at the end of March through the hills of Perth, walking 60km over 2 days. This is a part of "The Weekend To End Women's Cancer" fundraiser. I have put together a team, called the "Lets Dutch it" team, and have my friends Jill from Boyup Brook and Kerry from Bridgetown walking with and supporting me," Ms Nobel said.
"We are also having a cake stall on Saturday January 31 at the community stall in Bridgetown and we are having a fundraising night at The Cidery with Jodie Boni on February 27.
"I think it is really important to raise funds to help support this type of study, but I am doing these fundraising activities more so to raise awareness of the problems associated with this issue."
More information about the Weekend to End Women's Cancer walk can be found at www.endcancer.org.au. If you would like to make a donation to Ms Nobel’s team, you can find the "lets Dutch it" team on this website.
