Shocking News
Guiliana Rancic is so much more than a pretty face. She is a wife, a co-host on E! News, and now, a cancer survivor, too.
It all began when Giuliana and her husband, Bill, wanted to start a family. Ultimately, they decided to try In Vitro Vertilization. Their first two attempts proved unsuccessful, but the undeterred couple wanted to try again.
Before undergoing the procedure, however, Giuliana had a mammogram at her doctor's urging. With no breast cancer gene and no immediate family history, Guiliana learned that she had breast cancer in both breasts.
Survival
After much deliberation, she decided on a double mastectomy, simultaneous reconstruction, and radiation thereafter. With radiation alone, she says, the cancer could have a 40% chance of recurring.
Another factor that contributed to her survival is early detection. Thanks to her mammogram, she caught the cancer early. And some health facilities, such as those at Emory, can perform a breast CT, which detects cancer sooner than mammographies and without the compression.
Surgical Advances
Even the mastectomy technique has improved. Sugeons can now perform what is called a skin-saving mastectomy, during which surgeons eliminate the flesh inside the breasts while keeping the "shell" of the breasts intact. This lays the groundwork for reconstruction, and eliminates the need for tattooed nipples and areolas.
Joining the Cause
Like a lot of women, Giuliana has turned her tragedy into triumph. Instead of asking for sympathy, she has asked her loved ones to get mammograms as well. She is a suvivor, and she will live on to fulfill the one role she hasn't yet: a mother.
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