DR. LORI DAVIDSON 107 N. State Road 135 Suite 102 Greenwood 317-893-3131 CFWHealth.com
DOES CANCER RUN IN YOUR FAMILY?
FIND OUT IF YOU ARE AT RISK Dr. Lori Davidson has been serving the women of Johnson County since 1992. In her time as an obstetrician, she has delivered enough babies to populate a town the size of Whiteland. “Dr. Lori,” as her patients call her, stopped delivering babies a few years ago, but she still provides gynecological care for women of all ages. According to Dr. Lori, “A significant change in healthcare is the availability of genetic testing. Many patients don’t know that genetic testing is easily available, and the cost of tests is covered by most insurance companies.”
“Information is a beautiful thing,” Dr. Lori stated. “Knowing if you are at risk or not allows us to develop a course of action. It can be lifestyle modification, more frequent cancer screenings or being proactive as Angelina Jolie was and remove an organ before it becomes cancerous.” “Some people are hesitant to have the test, but you should do it for your family and you. Knowing the risk allows you to share that information with your children who can then act accordingly,” Dr. Lori says. It is not just daughters who should be tested. A son has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the cancer gene if one parent has it.
Dr. Lori invites everyone to attend the Genetic Testing Hereditary Cancer Open House on April 25. You will learn more about genetic She adds, “Genetic testing allows us to detect health issues and testing and can find out if you are at risk for certain cancers. See create a plan.” The most common genetic test that she provides helps more information below. determine an increased risk for developing certain types of cancer. More than two years ago, Angelina Jolie wrote about her choice to have a risk-reducing double mastectomy after learning that she was positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. Like many individuals in our community, she has lost several close relatives to cancer including her mother, grandmother and aunt. In a March 2015 New York Times oped article, she discussed her journey that ultimately led to her decision.
APRIL 25
THE CANCER INHERITANCE RISK INCREASES IF: • It occurs at a young age (e.g., below 50) • It develops in multiple family members • There are rare cancers in a family
You’re invited to attend the GENETIC TESTING HEREDITARY CANCER OPEN HOUSE
Learn if hereditary cancer testing is right for you and about your risk, all in a relaxed and informal atmosphere! Knowing your cancer family history can help you and family make life-saving medical decisions. Dr. Davidson will be available to answer questions. Free admission! Food and beverages provided 6 p.m. Dr. Lori Davidson’s Office (Lobby of Approved Mortgage Building) 107 N. State Road 135, Greenwood Pre-registration via phone is requested 317-893-3131 To learn about your cancer risk, take the online quiz at CFWHealth.com/quiz.
30 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / APRIL 2016 / atCenterGrove.com