She has a high breast cancer risk but has to wait years for preventative surgery – CBC

32-year-old faces wait of up to 3 years

Oct 02, 2024

An Ottawa woman says she’s frustrated, angry and afraid as she faces a growing wait for a procedure that could spare her from the high risk of breast cancer she faces.

Ashley Ricks, 32, has been assessed as having a greater than 25 per cent chance of developing breast cancer through genetic testing and a medical assessment taking into account her family’s cancer history.

Even with her risk identified and the support of her doctor, she’s struggling to get the follow up care she wants – a preventative double mastectomy.

“While I’m waiting for the surgery, the thoughts keep rolling in my head: Am I going to get it? How long is this going to take? How certain is this going to be? And it’s scary,” Ricks said in her south Ottawa home.

Ricks also has fibrocystic breasts – which cause pain, swelling and lumps. The condition has required biopsies, a procedure to end bleeding from her nipples and led to her seeking genetic risk screening after speaking with her doctor.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/double-mastectomy-breast-cancer-1.7338721