Lori Rieger’s family has a long history of breast cancer. Her mother, Lois Seelman, was diagnosed when she was 47. And Seelman was only 9 when her mother —Rieger’s grandmother Loretta Fischer—died from the disease at age 40.

Looking at her family history, Rieger’s sister, 59-year-old Teri Zangaro, decided to be proactive and have genetic testing in January 2015. Her fears were confirmed when Zangaro found out that she had the BRCA2 gene mutation, an identified mutation that indicates a significantly higher risk for getting breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

“Women with this gene have an increased risk by 87% for breast cancer and up to 30% for ovarian cancer,” Rieger says. “While it may be easier to detect breast cancer than before, it is still very difficult to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages.”

Zangaro encouraged Rieger and their other sister, Patty Seelman, to undergo genetic testing. While Seelman decided not to have the test, Rieger went for it.

“I immediately called. If I had the mutation, I wanted to know,” Rieger says.

The test required Rieger to submit a blood sample, and within a week, she found out that she too had the BRCA2 gene.

Call to Action

While the BRCA2 genetic test indicates whether you have increased risk of cancer, there are measures you can take to help lessen the risks. Rieger didn’t want to wait and see what would happen and if she would develop cancer. She immediately consulted a surgeon and, along with her husband, Bud, decided to have a prophylactic hysterectomy and a double mastectomy.

Rieger began planning out her procedures and consulted with Facing Our Risks of Cancer Empowered, a.k.a. FORCE, a national organization that helps fight against genetic breast and ovarian cancer.

Thanks to information garnered through networking, recommendations and medical research, Rieger selected her medical team. Dr. Thomas Krivak, gynecologic oncologist would perform her prophylactic oophorectomy to remove her ovaries, along with removal of her uterus and cervix. Breast surgeon Dr. Donald M. Keenan II would perform her prophylactic double mastectomy. And plastic surgeon Dr. James P. O’Toole would do the reconstructive surgery.

A Frightening Journey

In March 2015, Rieger had her hysterectomy and all went well. So well that in a month she was back at her job as the superintendent’s secretary and the board secretary at North Hills School District. On June 18, 2015, she had her mastectomy.

Although the mastectomy went well, Rieger learned that O’Toole couldn’t put the breast implants in place. Instead, he had to choose a longer route where an expandable implant is put into place and gradually filled to allow the pectoral muscles and skin to be slowly stretched over time to accommodate permanent implants.

“I was mildly disappointed because it would prolong the process, but I was fine with it,” Rieger says.

After the first nine days, her recovery was going so well, she told Bud to take a break from his care-giving duties. “He hadn’t left my side and I told him to get out and go golfing,” she says.

Soon after Bud left, things started to go wrong. Rieger suddenly felt a pop in her chest.

“I was literally watching my breast expand. I immediately called my surgeon’s office and while I was on the phone, blood started coming out of my drains,” she says.

Afraid for her life, Rieger called for an ambulance and then called her best friend, Melanie Haynes, a certified school nurse.

“I said, ‘I’m hemorrhaging. What should I do?’ She stayed on the phone with me until the ambulance got there, then Melanie’s mother, Kim Haynes, who works at Allegheny General Hospital, met me at the hospital,” Rieger says. “I was panicking. I thought I was going to bleed to death.”

As it turned out, the cauterization of one of her blood vessels had popped, causing Rieger to bleed. Immediately, Rieger was operated on and for two weeks, things went well. Then Rieger developed an infection in her right breast. This time, the doctors tried a round of oral treatment, then intravenous antibiotics.

At this point, Rieger had to make a decision to continue with the process and risk getting sick again, or stop and wait for a while.

“It was six weeks out and I wasn’t healing. I was heartbroken to stop the process, but I was terrified,” she says.

O’Toole removed the implants but left enough skin to later do reconstructive surgery, should Rieger decide to try again. When the drains were removed a week later, O’Toole gave Rieger a little pep talk.

“He told me that just because this happened didn’t mean I couldn’t have successful surgery in the future. But at that point, I just wanted my life back,” she says. “He is far and above not only a highly skilled physician, but the most patient-focused doctor. I could not have met a better doctor or human being for that matter.”

Starting Anew

Six months later, Rieger decided to give the surgery another go. On June 6, she underwent surgery again. This time, the surgery was successful, and Rieger healed right on schedule.

“It was not only far easier physically, but I was ready emotionally. I had already lost the breasts. This was exciting because I began the process to get new ones,” she says.

Soon after surgery, Rieger began the expansion process with the ultimate goal that the muscles will grow and strengthen so that they can support the permanent implant. Rieger hopes she will be ready for the permanent implants in December.

Despite the harrowing journey over the past year, Rieger says she would do it all over again for the sake of her health.

“For most of my adult life, I’ve felt that my genes were plotting against me,” she says. “To have the worry of a breast cancer diagnosis removed is an enormous weight lifted. I’m so grateful.”