News

Fort Mill woman shares how new genetic test may save lives

FORT MILL, S.C. — This year, more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 250,000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

But a new genetic test can help determine someone’s unique risk for developing the cancers and a Fort Mill woman believes this test saved her life.

After losing her mother to ovarian cancer at 48 and her sister to breast cancer at 41, Cheryl Scott’s doctor suggested she get the genetic test to determine her risk. The test came back positive for the BRCA gene.

“That means I had a 50 percent chance in my lifetime of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and an 80 percent chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer,” Scott told Channel 9 news anchor Erica Bryant.

Scott chose to have a double mastectomy and her ovaries removed, now dropping her risk to only 2 percent. After taking these drastic measures to help ensure her own health, Scott wants to share her story in hopes of helping others.

“Honestly, this is my purpose now, to get the word out. I want to save lives,” she says.

Scott encourages anyone who’s had a close relative die from breast, ovarian or fallopian tube cancer to get tested, which is covered by most insurance plans.

“I really hope this empowers women that even if you don't do what I did, you need to know what's going on with your health.”

Scott’s daughter, who could have been at risk because of their family history, tested negative for the gene.

Read more about Scott's experience in an article she wrote here.