A woman suffering from breast and ovarian cancer wishes she could “turn the clock back” after missed opportunities to identify her as a carrier of a hereditary gene mutation that causes cancer.
Alison Dagul, a 56-year-old woman from north London, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014. Then, during surgery, it emerged her condition was far worse and she also had ovarian cancer.
Now Ms Dagul has been identified as a carrier of the hereditary BRCA gene, which makes women more 60 per cent more likely to develop ovarian cancer and 90 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer.
Her story comes after research by charity The Eve Appeal revealed that nearly two-thirds of women had not heard of BRCA gene mutations.
Ms Dagul said she was unaware that she was a carrier because she inherited the gene from her father’s side. She was told the NHS only tested for the BRCA gene when there are two maternal links.
“I didn’t know I was a carrier because it came through my father,” she said.
“I went to a gynaecologist every year. I did everything I could for my health.
She added: “If I look back over my family history I could have been a carrier because I am Jewish and have a paternal carrier. It should have rung alarm bells.”
Three specific BRCA gene faults are seen more commonly in Ashkenazi Jewish women, originating from Eastern Europe, according to Cancer Research. Many women of this descent have a test for the breast cancer gene even if they have no known relative with the fault.
Since her diagnosis, Ms Dagul has been through three rounds of chemotherapy. She was initially classed as inoperable, but after three years on Avastin, a tumor-starving chemotherapy, she was allowed to undergo a radical hysterectomy.
“The surgery was very hard,” she said. “Afterwards I got sepsis and then I was in hospital for a month.”
She continued: “If I could turn the clock back, I wish I knew I was a carrier. I don’t know how much more treatment I can cope with.”
“The chemo is wicked, it’s horrible.”
Ms Dagul has a son, 25, and a daughter, 27, who is a carrier. Her daughter had a preventative mastectomy when she was 26-years-old after saying that her breasts were like “ticking time bombs”.
“It’s been a real drive for me to make sure that my daughter is safe,” Ms Dagul went on. “It broke my heart that she would have to go through it.”
She added: “Although it’s quite frightening, she can take control of her destiny, whereas I couldn’t. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
New research released by The Eve Appeal said that 63 per cent of women had not heard of BRCA gene mutations and 30 per cent did not know where to find information about women’s cancer and hereditary risks.
The charity has launched an online resource covering ovarian, breast and womb cancers to encourage women to be aware of hereditary cancer risks.
Commenting on the findings Ms Dagul said: “Sometimes if you are not looking for [the information] you don’t take much notice. If people are informed they can make a decision. Knowledge is power.”
She urged: “I would like to see every woman BRCA tested because it’s not an expensive test. People need the option to have it.”
