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One day in 1895, a Michigan seamstress named Pauline Gross confided her worst fears to the doctor who employed her. "I'm healthy now," she said, "but I fully expect to die an early death from cancer. Most of my relatives are sick, and many in my family have already passed on."
The doctor decided to investigate. His work was the first step in the discovery - one hundred years later - of a gene mutation that causes colon cancer, known as Family "G".
Ami Mackay is a writer in Scott's Bay, Nova Scotia. The seamstress was her great grandmother's sister. With a test for the gene mutation now available, Ami Mackay is a woman with some very hard decisions to make.
This program comes to us from the CBC as part of our international documentary exchange series, Crossing Boundaries.
Daughter of Family G was written and produced by Ami McKay of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The editor and studio engineer was Dick Miller. It originally aired as part of the international documentary exchange, Crossing Boundaries.
Links:
Daughter of Family G Web site
Visit writer Ami McKay's website devoted to the story behind the documentary.
Colon Cancer Alliance
An organization of cancer survivors, their families and healthcare workers dedicated to patient support, advocacy and education.
Hereditary Colon Cancer Association
An organization which promotes awareness, education and prevention of hereditary colon cancer.
Books:
 Understanding Colon Cancer
by: Richard Richard Adrouny, A. Richard Adrouny 2002
A handy guidebook to concise information and explanation about the disease.
 Colon & Rectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Guide for Patients & Families
by: Lorraine Johnston 1999
A comprehensive analysis of the clinical, financial, social, and research aspects of colon and rectal cancer.
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