CANCER PREVENTION LEADS TO LIFE-CHANGING SURGERY

    Editor’s Note: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an international campaign held each October to promote screening and reduce the risk of a disease that affects 2.3 million women worldwide. As the month wraps up, the Journal shares the story of one local woman, Sheila Anderson of Britton, whose journey offers a different kind of message focused on awareness and prevention.
    For Britton-Hecla School Counselor Sheila Anderson, Breast Cancer Awareness Month carries a deeply personal meaning, not born of a cancer diagnosis but of a decision to act before one could ever come.
    Anderson, a Britton native and longtime educator, has served as the K-12 counselor at Britton-Hecla since 2002. Before that, she taught special education at Tiospa Zina Tribal School. She and her husband, Wendell, make their home in Britton, where he operates Anderson Trucking. Her son lives in Denver, and her daughter attends Augustana University.
    Her journey began in 2022 when her father was diagnosed with throat cancer. “He did genetic testing to help determine treatment,” Anderson explained. “That’s when they found he had a mutation in the BRCA2 gene.”
    Because the gene mutation can be inherited, Anderson was advised to undergo testing herself. “I was given the choice of whether or not to do testing since I had a 50/50 chance of having the mutation,” she said. “I did the testing and found out that I also had the BRCA2 gene mutation.”
    The discovery was startling. “It was sort of shocking,” Anderson said. “I had heard of the gene mutation but didn’t really know much about it.”
    Once she learned what the results meant, Anderson began weighing her options. Women who carry the BRCA2 mutation have a 50 to 80 percent chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime and a significantly higher risk for ovarian cancer as well. “My risk jumped so much that I decided to take preventative measures,” she said.
    In late 2022, Anderson underwent a hysterectomy and oophorectomy to reduce her ovarian cancer risk. Then in 2023, she made the life-altering decision to have a prophylactic double mastectomy with reconstruction.
    “I was nervous, but also relieved,” Anderson recalled. “I had received some abnormal mammogram reports in the past, so I felt like this was the right decision for me.”
    Throughout her journey, she leaned on others who had walked similar paths. “I was in contact with four ladies, some from our own community, who had gone through the same genetic issues and surgeries,” she said. “They were so helpful and willing to share their experiences.” Anderson also found support online through Facebook groups of women facing the same decisions.
    Her recovery, she said, went “so, so well.” Anderson credits her good health to preparation and self-care. “At the time, I was working out at ColdFront Fitness and taking some high-quality supplements and eating well,” she said. “That really helped me bounce back quickly.” She also praised her medical team at Avera in Sioux Falls, Dr. Martin and Dr. Bryan, for their care and professionalism.
    The experience has left Anderson with a deeper sense of gratitude and perspective. “I already tried to live life with a lot of gratitude each and every day, and that has only gotten more important to me,” she said. “We have a finite amount of days on this Earth, and I try to make each one count.”
    She remains vigilant about her health, continuing regular screenings and follow-up appointments. “There are still other risks with this mutation, like pancreatic cancer and melanoma,” she noted. “So I try to make healthier choices and lower my risk wherever I can.”
    Anderson hopes her story will encourage others to learn about their family history and consider genetic counseling. “I was surprised to hear that some people choose not to get tested,” she said. “For me, it was the opposite. If I didn’t get tested, I think I would have worried about it more. But it’s a personal decision.”
    She also remains grateful to her father for undergoing testing that ultimately revealed her own risk. “Even though my dad didn’t get to find out his or my results because he passed away, I’m so thankful that he did the testing,” she said. “I’m forever grateful to him for that.”
    While Anderson has not personally battled breast cancer, she feels a renewed connection to the awareness efforts that mark each October. “Even though I haven’t had breast cancer, I feel more in touch with the month and with those who have struggled with it,” she said.
    Looking ahead, Anderson hopes to participate in the Avera Race Against Cancer in Sioux Falls this May. “Staying active is so important,” she said with a smile. “If I put it out there, I’m more likely to do it, and anyone is welcome to join me. The more, the merrier.”