Wednesday, February 03, 2016
A Hollywood produced documentary featuring the story of a young Michigan woman’s decision to have a preventive double-mastectomy will premiere at the Royal Oak Main Art Theatre Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
The film, “Pink & Blue: Colors of Hereditary Cancer,” explains what it is like to live with BRCA genetic mutations through the eyes of multiple men and women from across the country. These mutations can often lead to cancer.
Beaumont Health patient Kelly Rothe learned she had a mutation of the BRCA gene when she was just 18 years old. Doctors told her she had an 87 percent chance of getting breast cancer at some point in her life.
Several of Rothe’s Beaumont doctors, including Dana Zakalik, M.D., and Nayana Dekhne, M.D., are also included in the documentary.
Rothe’s mother, Nancy, passed away from breast cancer when Rothe was nine years old. Cancer also took her aunt’s life. So, at the age of 20, Rothe made a life-changing and, perhaps, life-saving decision.She decided to have a double-mastectomy. The producers of the film flew to Michigan to document Rothe’s surgery at Beaumont—Royal Oak. The crew also followed two other local women for the film.
“Hearing a loved one moan in pain at three in the morning is a sound that will haunt me
for the rest of my life. I don’t want another family or person to have to go through that. I lost loved ones because of the lack of information about genetic mutations,” producer Alan Blassberg said.
Rothe said her decision was a matter of life and death.
“Growing up, I watched my mom go through breast cancer. I watched what it did to my family. I never want to do that to my kids. I don’t even want to have the preventive surgery when I’m with my kids because I want to be able to hold them, and play with them and run with them," Rothe said.
Blassberg, Rothe and representatives from Beaumont Health will host a panel discussion after the film premiere. Tickets for the premiere are available for $12 at http://www.landmarktheatres.com/detroit/main-art-theatre/private-screenings.