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Mum's blood sample saves daughter from cancer
15 Jan
Summary
- A blood sample from a deceased mother identified a BRCA2 gene mutation.
- The discovery allowed her daughter to undergo preventative surgery.
- This foresight ensured eligibility for crucial genetic testing.
Jane Tomlinson, who passed away from breast cancer in 2007 at age 43, left behind a powerful legacy through a charitable appeal that has raised over £10 million. However, her most profound contribution was a foresight that would impact her family's future health. Before her death, Jane requested a blood sample be preserved for her family's use in genetic testing.
This sample was tested in May 2023, revealing Jane carried the mutated BRCA2 gene, which substantially increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. This finding made her children eligible for genetic counseling and testing. Her middle daughter, Becca, 37, discovered she also carries the BRCA2 mutation. Driven by a desire to be present for her own children, Becca underwent a preventative double mastectomy and salpingectomy in 2023.
Becca's proactive measures include planning for an oophorectomy (ovary removal) in her early 40s to further mitigate cancer risks. Her mother's preserved blood sample was instrumental, as it provided the necessary family history to make her eligible for NHS testing, a step that has potentially saved her life and ensures she can be there for her children.
