Surgery dilemma of cancer gene sisters

By Marie-Louise Connolly Good Morning Ulster

Four of the Conlon sisters have already tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene

Bronagh Conlon knows only too well what it's like living with cancer.

Two years ago she found a lump in her right breast. It was malignant.

"The cancer was aggressive and spreading - within weeks I had the lump removed and total node clearance," she says.

"The chemotherapy took its toll. I lost my hair and found I had very little energy. It was a dark time in my life."

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

She took the decision to undergo genetic testing for a rare but deadly gene associated with breast and ovarian cancer.

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

They are all at various stages of genetic testing which they believe will give them choices to help them survive.

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

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

At 45, Mary is the eldest 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 appear to have it all.

But ticking away inside their bodies is the BRCA 1 gene.

So far four of the sisters have tested positive. Their brother Bernard, 38, has recently discovered he too is carrying the gene - this leaves the eldest of the siblings David, 46, and Teresa to be tested.

In order to protect their bodies from the ravages of cancer they have to choose whether or not to keep their breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Bronagh Conlon (pictured with her family) was the first of the five sisters to undergo genetic testing

Keeping them means they have a 75% chance of developing breast cancer at some stage in their lives. They also have a 50% chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Bronagh was the first of the five sisters to undergo genetic testing.

Her decision was precipitated by growing evidence of a poor family history.

Ten years ago, her sister Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease has also claimed the lives of their grandmother and one aunt.

Having tested positive for the gene within the past few months, Mary, Caroline and Bronagh have now had their breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, everything that on the inside makes them a woman.

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

From her home in Wales and just days before the operation, Mary said she felt lucky that she knew about the gene she was carrying.

When I got the news at first I was in denial, then there was this explosive meltdown Bernie Conlon Read part two of their story

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

"We are fortunate to have had our families so we are able to have the ovaries removed and remove that risk of cancer developing. It's a long operation - eight hours under anaesthetic scares the life of me. "

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

Bernie has recently returned home from England to Armagh to be closer to her family while undergoing surgery.

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

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

"It was like walking through treacle trying to get through everyday life."

None of the sisters has taken the decision lightly, but typically they all agree they are doing it for their children.

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

She said: "I really want to see them grow up and embarrass them at their weddings. If it's a life or death decision - well I choose life."

You can follow the Conlon family's story throughout this week on Good Morning Ulster.

Read Marie-Louise Connolly's report on how the sisters have come through their surgery and their plans for the future.