Know Your Genes
April 20, 2016
Seeing to much more than hemlines at Fashion Week, leading Canadian designer David Dixon used his highly anticipated show to bring awareness to the role of BRCA gene mutations in ovarian cancer.
His reasons for choosing to do so were deeply personal. Susan, David’s sister, passed away last May. An advocate for women’s health, she was passionate about causes like this one.
“I wasn’t sure what to do without my sister Susan [about presenting a collection], but then I got a call from Ovarian Cancer Canada. It was like a tap on my shoulder reminding me that I wasn’t done sharing ideas,” says David. “It was the fuel that I needed to get out my sketchbook and design, but this time it was with a profound purpose. It was not just a collection for the season but a conversation for a lifetime.”
The show opened with a video that shared David’s motivation, explaining that his new collection uses ‘jean’ fabric to inspire conversations about ‘genes’ and ovarian cancer.
Teal takeover
Following a stunning runway presentation, David appeared onstage to walk hand-in-hand with women living with ovarian cancer and others who had been tested for gene mutations. Dressed in teal t-shirts and jeans they made a powerful fashion statement indeed.
The crowd rose for a standing ovation.
Robin Hanson backstage at the show
Among the women walking was Robin Hanson. “What a great bunch of strong women!” she says. “The other survivors inspired me to keep going and made me realize how lucky I am.”
“For me, it was one of the most emotional shows I’ve ever done. Just holding their hands gave me a sense of power that I’ve never felt at a fashion show,” says David. “What’s wonderful about it is that so many people are now talking about something that they might not have been talking about yesterday.”
On genetics and testing
Erinn Monture
“I am going for genetic testing just as soon as I finish chemo,” says Erinn Monture, a survivor who joined David on the runway. “I’m doing it for my sister and my daughter. If we can do anything to help them avoid having to go through this, or make things better for them down the road, we’ve got to go there.”
While all women are at risk for developing ovarian cancer, certain genetic mutations contribute to increased risk. For instance, as many as 20 per cent of all cases of ovarian cancer are the result of a BRCA gene mutation.
Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are known as tumour suppressors because they are responsible for repairing damaged DNA. Mutations of these genes have been linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
“Genetic testing can allow women to determine whether increased surveillance and preventive action are viable options based on their circumstances,” says Dr. Laurie Elit, MD, Gynecologic Oncology Division Head, Professor in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University. “For women already diagnosed with ovarian cancer, new treatments are being developed which target BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, helping us to fight the disease more effectively. This is a giant step forward.”
To learn more about gene mutations and risk factors for ovarian cancer, visit the Risk factors section of ovariancanada.org.