Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on June 6, 2017

After battling breast cancer, Rita Vargas has a deeper appreciation for her ancestry.

The 58-year-old Davenport woman whois the first Latina to be named Honorary Survivor Chair of Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 after finding a small lump. She was eating peanuts on a November night, she said, andI dropped one down my shirt. When I went to grab it, it felt like a bug bite.

Ms. Vargas didn't go to a doctor right away. I was sick of having to see another doctor after a long year of gallbladder issues, and thought I could just wait until February when Id see my regular doctor, she said.

A mammogram showed several lumps, which led to a single mastectomy, the removal of 18 lymph nodes, chemotherapy and 32 radiation treatments.

After treatment and more tests, Ms. Vargas was shocked that she tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation. We had no history of breast cancer, she said. It just seemed too bizarre. Doctors told me at the time that I had the same breast cancer gene as Jewish women.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. When there are changes in the genes, it is called a mutation, which raises the risk of developing breast and other cancers, such as ovarian.

Studies have shown that Ashkenazi Jewish women have a higher risk of breast cancer if there is a history of a gene mutation. If a parent has the BRCA gene mutation, there is a 50 percent chance of passing it to their children.

Ms. Vargas researched the BRCA gene as well as her ancestry. She discovered that she indeed was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. It was important to find out, she said.

Her Jewish ancestry dates back to when the Spaniards first entered Mexico in the 1500s. The Jewish population was forced to become practicing Catholics, and were a part of those fleeing to Mexico, Ms. Vargas said. My family was as stunned as I was because we always believed we were Mexicans with a bit of Native American blood.

Ms. Vargas, who is the Scott County Recorder, will be joined by her family, friends and co-workers this Saturday as she walks with the Scott County Cancer Kickers in the 28th annual Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure downtown Moline.

I want people to know just because you dont have a history of the disease in your family, doesnt mean that you cant be the first one to have breast cancer, she said.

Uniquely, I found out about a gene that saved my life and the rest of my family.

Martha Garcia is a writer, communications instructor and bilingual marketing professional who lives in Bettendorf. She can be contacted at marthagarciawriter@yahoo.com.

Read this article:

First Latina Komen Quad Cities honorary chair raises awareness about BRCA gene and gene mutation - Quad-Cities Online

Category: Ashkenazi
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