[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ON ARIZONA HORIZON, CONGRESS-WOMAN ANN KIRKPATRICK EXPLAINS HER DECISION NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

TO CAREGIVERS OF THOSE WITH DEMENTIA, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE GENDER GAP IN CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

WELL THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG, THE STATE THIS MORNING OPENED COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTMENTS TO ALL ARIZONANS OVER THE AGE OF 16, AND IT TOOK ALL OF 20 MINUTES FOR EVERY AVAILABLE SLOT TO BE TAKEN.

MORE SLOTS WILL OPEN UP ON FRIDAY, AND YOU CAN CHECK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE EACH DAY TO SEE IF SPOTS POP UP DUE TO CANCELLATIONS.

15% OF ARIZONANS ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

>>> THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES INCREASED BY 605 TODAY.

THAT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE STATE'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE.

FATALITIES STILL RANKS AMONG THE WORST WITH 44 CERTIFIED TODAY, MANY OF THOSE OCCURRED DAYS AND EVEN WEEKS AGO.

>>> BORDER PATROL OFFICIALS ARE RELEASING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF MIGRANT INTO THE U.S.

WITHOUT ISSUING COURT APPEARANCE NOTICES.

WITHOUT A NOTICE TO APPEAR, IT'S UP TO MIGRANTS TO APPEAR AND REGISTER FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS.

>>> THE U.S. SENATE HELD A HEARING ON A COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO INCREASE VOTING RIGHTS.

HERE IS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER.

>> IN ARIZONA NO FEWER THAN 22 SEPARATE MEASURES TO LIMIT VOTING RIGHTS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, INCLUDING EVERY ABSENTEE BALLOT TO BE NOTE RIGHTED.

HOW ARE POOR PEOPLE GOING TO PAY FOR A FLOATRY, WHEN THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO INDICATION OF FRAUD.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.

>> AS FOR THE BILL BEING CONSIDERED BY THE SENATE, IT HAS ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE, BUT SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE CALLING THE MOVE TO OVERHAUL FEDERAL ELECTIONS A QUOTE, PARTISAN PARTY GRAB.

>>> AND THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE POPULATION HAS MORE THAN QUADRUPLED IN THE PAST DECADE.

U.S.

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT CREDITS PROTECTION LAWS FOR THE INCREASING POPULATION.

BALD EAGLES ARE STILL PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL LAWS.

>>> AND CHECK THIS OUT.

A POLEALIZED IMAGE OF A SUPER BLACK HOLE.

SCIENTISTS SAY THAT THE POLE POLEPOLE POLE -- FASCINATING.

>>> ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN ANN KIRKPATRICK RECENTLY ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD NOT SEEK REELECTION.

WE SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE KIRKPATRICK TODAY TO FIND OUT WHAT MOTIVATED THAT DECISION.

CONGRESSWOMAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

WHY?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, TED, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN IT'S OKAY TO RETIRE.

I WILL HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE 18 YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND MY HUSBAND AND I AND THE FAMILY STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT AT THANKSGIVING, AND WE JUST WANT TO BE CLOSER TO OUR FAMILY.

WE HAVE TWO FOUR YEAR OLD AND ONE FIVE YEAR OLD GRANDSON, AND WE JUST WANT TO BE AROUND THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND IT JUST FELT LIKE THE RIGHT DECISION, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY REGRETS.

IT'S TIME TO TURN THE REINS OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> YOU MENTION BEING WITH FAMILY.

TRAVEL IS A BIG PART OF BEING A CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO AND FROM WASHINGTON AND AROUND YOUR DISTRICT.

DID THAT PLAY A PART OF THAT DECISION?

>> THAT WAS A PART OF IT, YEAH.

YEAH.

WE WOULD LIKE TO STAY CLOSER TO HOME.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO MISS THOSE LONG FLIGHTS BACK AND FORTH TO D.C., SO IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE RIGHT TIMING, AND I KNOW THAT OTHER GOOD PEOPLE WILL STEP UP TO RUN, SO, YOU KNOW, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS SEAT IN DEMOCRATIC HANDS.

>> HOW MUCH DID HEALTH ISSUES PLAY A PART IN THIS DECISION?

>> NOT AT ALL.

NOT AT ALL.

IT WAS A FAMILY DECISION, BUT MY HEALTH IS GOOD.

I FEEL GOOD.

IT HAS BEEN STRONG, SO THAT WAS NOT A FACTOR.

>> NOT AT ALL, THEN, HUH?

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> OKAY.

YOU MENTIONED THE ELECTION TO SUCCEED YOU.

THIS ELECTION WILL INCLUDE A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN A DISTRICT THAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

DID REDISTRICTING PLAY A PART IN YOUR DECISION?

>> SLIGHTLY.

I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A BORDER DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, AND -- AND I LIKE THAT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION REFORM IS A TOP PRIORITY OF MINE.

IN FACT IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR CONGRESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I WAS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND WE WERE DOING PEACE MEAL IMMIGRATION WORK.

AND I SAID IT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO THAT WAS A FACTOR IN ME CHOOSING TO RUN FOR CONGRESS, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

WE REALLY HAVEN'T DONE IT YET.

SO I HOPE WE CAN GET PROGRESS AND GET IT DONE SOON.

>> AND AS FAR AS THE RACE TO SUCCEED YOU, WILL YOU WILL ACTIVE IN THE PRIMARY, AND WILL YOU BE ACTIVE IN THE GENERAL IN SUPPORTING CANDIDATES?

>> I WILL NOT.

I FEEL THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD PEOPLE STEPPING UP TO RUN, AND I'LL LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

>> LET'S GET BACK TO IMMIGRATION.

THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER, THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THIS IS NOT A CRISIS WITH MIGRATION AND FAMILIES SHOWING UP.

REPUBLICANS AND CRITICS SAY OTHERWISE.

IS THIS A CRISIS AT THE BORDER?

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A CHALLENGING SITUATION.

IT'S NOTHING NEW IN ARIZONA.

WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES FOR A LONG TIME, AND LIKE I SAY, IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR CONGRESS IN THE FIRST PLACE, BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO DO PIECEMEAL LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS IT.

IT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, BECAUSE IT HAS TO COVER ALL OF THE BORDER AND ALL OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> YOU SAY IT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, IF THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS PIECEMEAL, IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH?

>> I DON'T FEEL THAT WORKS.

I HONESTLY DON'T.

I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR COMPREHENSIVE, AND IT HAS TO BE HUMANE.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THESE FAMILIES ARE TREATED HUMANELY AT THE BORDER, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING A SURGE IN CHILDREN, SO THAT'S CONCERNING, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DIRECTING FEDERAL RESOURCES TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN.

>> YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON THE HILL, GOVERNOR DUCEY, ALL SAYING THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES, AND HOW MUCH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CHANGED TRUMP'S POLICY'S.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> NO.

NO.

THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING UPHEAVAL AND ECONOMIC UPHEAVAL IN THEIR COUNTRIES, SO THEY ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE.

THIS IS A HUMANE EFFORT.

WE'RE SEEING MIGRATION FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPERATE.

DESPERATE FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE THEM MAKING -- MAKING HUGE, HUGE TREKS THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA TO GET TO THE UNITED STATES, AND THEN HAVING TO WAIT AT THE BORDER UNTIL WE CAN PROCESS THEM, SO THEY HAVE PAID A LOT.

THEY REALLY PAID THE PRICE EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY, AND -- AS WELL AS IN SOME CASES FINANCIALLY TO THE COYOTES WHO CHARGE THEM TO BRING THEM UP.

>> AND THE SITUATION IN COLORADO, THE TWO MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES HERE IN THE PAST WEEK.

I KNOW THE HOUSE PASSED A COUPLE OF BILLS FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS.

WHAT CAN CONGRESS DO, WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO REGARDING GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA?

>> WE REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE HERE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, BECAUSE WHEN GABBY GIFFORDS WAS SHOT, AND JUDGE JOHN ROLE WAS KILLED WAS REALLY HARD.

I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR HRH WHICH IS THE BACKGROUND CHECK BILL.

AT MINIMUM WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PASS THAT.

I'M STILL HOPEFUL WE CAN GET IT THROUGH THE SENATE.

>> AND REPUBLICAN -- I THINK TED CRUZ AND SENATOR KENNEDY WERE BOTH SAYING THESE BILLS -- THIS CONSTANT LEGISLATION IS FOCUSING ON THE WRONG THING, AND IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN THEATER.

IT IS TALKING GUNS AWAY FROM FOLKS WHO ARE LAW-ABIDING, AS OPPOSED TO FOCUSING ON FOLKS WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE THESE GUNS.

VALID POINT?

>> I DISAGREE.

I THINK IT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, AND WE HAVE GOT TO DO IT IN A SMART WAY, AND NOT WITH SOME KIND OF KNEE JERK REACTION.

SO IT IS A PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR A LONG TIME.

CONGRESSWOMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

TAKE >>> UP NEXT, THE LATEST ON THE SENATE'S EFFORTS FOR ANOTHER AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY'S ELECTION RESULTS.

>>> THE STATE SENATE CONTINUES ITS EFFORTS TO AUDIT MARICOPA COUNTY'S ELECTION RESULTS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND OTHER CONCERNS AT THE STATE CAPITOL WITH HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM TRAVIS GRANTHAM IN THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME FOR A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

THERE IS A REPORT THAT THIS LATEST EFFORT IN THE SENATE -- I KNOW YOU ARE IN THE HOUSE, BUT I KNOW IT IS OF INTEREST TO YOU, THIS FORENSIC AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS, WHERE DO WE STANDING WITH THAT?

>> THANK YOU, TED.

GOOD QUESTION.

THE -- THE SENATE, OBVIOUSLY, HAS TAKEN THAT ISSUE AT HAND, AND TO TASK.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT IS WORKING ON IT, I KNOW, LONG STOP, ALONG WITH MY SEAT MATE.

THEY ARE GOING TO GET THE AUDIT DONE.

AND THEY WANT TO AUDIT ALL OF MARICOPA COUNTY'S BALLOTS AND VOTES CAST, JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO MONKEY BUSINESS.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO STAY THERE WAS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THERE WASN'T.

OUR VIEW IN THE HOUSE IS THIS IS THE FUNCTION OF THE SENATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO AS THE JUDGE AS RULED.

I'M ENCOURAGING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO WORK WITH THE SENATE AND MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE WHERE JOE BIDEN COMES OUT WITH MORE VOTES OR LESS VOTES IN THE STATE, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE VOTE SYSTEM IS GOOD, IT IS ACCURATE AND IT WORKS, AND WE SHOULD WELCOME THIS AUDIT.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE RESULTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD NO PROBLEM, WE HAD TWO PREVIOUS AUDITS, NOTHING WRONG.

THE PRE AND POST-ELECTION TESTS, THOSE FOUND NOTHING WRONG.

AT WHAT -- I MEAN -- I THINK -- I UNDERSTAND THAT -- SO WE TALKED TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT ABOUT THIS, AND SHE HAS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT SUMMONKY BUSINESS, AS YOU SAY WENT ON.

WHY WOULD THIS AUDIT SOMEHOW CLOSE THE DOOR, WHEN ALL OF THESE OTHER FACT CHECKS DIDN'T.

>> ALL OF THE FOLKS YOU MENTIONED MATTER.

THE ONE YOU DIDN'T MENTION IS THE VOTERS, AND THERE IS A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION RIGHT NOW THAT DOESN'T THINK THE ELECTION WAS DONE FAIRLY OR FREELY, AND THEY HAVE CONCERNS.

I HAVE SOME NEIGHBORS THAT RECEIVED THREE BALLOTS, AND ONE BALLOT WOULD BE FOR SOMEBODY WHO LIVED IN THE HOME THREE YEARS AGO.

WE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CHECKED DEAD FAMILY MEMBERS BALLOTS, AND THOSE BALLOTS HAD CLEARED.

I'M NOT OUT THERE SAYING, HEY, LOOK, WE WERE COMPLETELY RANSACKED AND WE BLEW IT.

THE VOTERS DESERVE TO KNOW, AND THAT'S WHO IS ASKING, AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE PROCEEDING THIS WAY.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN WON IN MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> I DO AS OF RIGHT NOW, BUT, AGAIN, I THINK AN AUDIT IS A HEALTHY THING, BECAUSE MAYBE WE'LL SEE OTHERWISE.

YOU KNOW -- YOU HAVE GOT TO REALIZE TOO, A FEW MILLION VOTES, YOU KNOW, NEARLY, AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A 10,000-VOTE MARGIN, ROUGHLY TO WIN THE ENTIRE STATE.

THAT'S A VERY NARROW MARGIN, AND WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEM WORKS PROPERLY.

ARIZONA IS NOT GOING TO TIP THE SCALE, BUT I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.

>> YOU THINK WITH ALL OF THESE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ALL OF THIS ACCOUNTABILITY, ANOTHER AUDIT, IF THEY FIND NO MONKEY BUSINESS, WILL THESE FOLKS BE SATISFIED?

>> MAYBE THIS WILL HELP A SEGMENT THAT IS UNHAPPY ABOUT IT.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, I GET THOUSANDS OF EMAILS.

IT'S NOT JUST REPUBLICANS ASKING FOR THIS.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN, THEY DON'T WANT HIM MIRED BY THIS FOR HIS ENTIRE FOUR YEARS.

I THINK IT'S VITAL THAT WE CLEAR THIS UP, I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE DO IT.

AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO THINK THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS A RUSSIAN ASSET.

IT'S RIDICULOUS, BUT IT'S THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SB457 THAT GIVES EQUAL RIGHTS TO UNBORN CHILDREN AND GIVES THE HUSBAND AND PARENTS THE RIGHT TO SUE ON BEHALF OF AN UNBORN CHILD.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS LEGISLATION?

>> IT PASSED THE SENATE.

IT IS IN THE HOUSE NOW.

WE HAVE CAUCUSED THE BILL, AND THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE PENALTIES SURROUNDING THE PROCESS, AND THE FACT THAT UNIVERSITIES AND OBGYN'S WOULD LOSE FEDERAL FUNDING IF THE BILL GOES THROUGH AS PRESENTED.

THE REPRESENTATIVE IS WORKING WITH THE BILL SPONSORS TO HOPEFULLY FIND A GOOD SAFE MIDDLE GROUND.

I SUPPORT THE BILL.

I'M PRO LIFE CATHOLIC.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS TYPE OF PRACTICE TAKING PLACE TO BEGIN WITH.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING OVERALL, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS WHO HAVE CONCERNS.

>> AND PRISON DOCTORS WHO TERMINATE PREGNANCY DUE TO ABNORMALITIES IN PRISONS.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?

>> I HAVE MY CONCERNS, BUT I SUPPORT THE BILL.

>> LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

CRITICS OF THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION SAY IT IS ONLY DESIGNED TO GET INTO THE COURT SYSTEM AND SOMEHOW WORK ITS WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT SO ROE V. WADE IS RECONSIDERED.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

IN OTHER STATES WE HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS LIKE -- IT IS CALLED THE HEARTBEAT BILL.

THOSE ARE LIKELY DESTINED TO THE SUPREME COURT AND MAY SERVE A PURPOSE.

I THINK WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ARIZONA.

>> ALREADY, HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM TRAVIS GRANTHAM IN THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU TED.

>>> THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ESTIMATES THAT NEARLY 44,000 WOMEN IN THE U.S.

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT WILL DIE THIS YEAR FROM BREAST CANCER.

A GROWING NUMBER OF WOMEN ARE TAKING AGGRESSIVE STEPS TO REDUCE THEIR RISK.

THEY ARE CHOOSING TO SURGICALLY REMOVE BOTH BREASTS PREVENTATIVELY.

SUSAN LISOVICZ TALKED TO DR. MARNIE SPIERER, A PROMINENT ONCOLOGIST, WHO RECENTLY MADE THIS DECISION HERSELF.

>> DOCTOR, YOU HAD A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY IN JANUARY.

YOU DID NOT HAVE A BAD MAMMOGRAM.

YOU HAD GENETIC TESTING THAT DID NOT SHOW A MUTANT GENE IN THE FAMILY.

HOW DID YOU LEARN THAT YOU WERE AT HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST CANCER.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT, SUSAN.

IT STARTED WHEN MY OLDER SISTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, DECEMBER 2019, AND ONCE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED, SHE REPRESENTED THE THIRD GENERATION ON MY MOM'S SIDE OF A BREAST CANCER, OR AT LEAST A FEMALE CANCER.

MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER DIED OF AN UNKNOWN FEMALE CANCER.

MY MOMENT DIED OF BREAST CANCER, AND MY SISTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, AND AS YOU KNOW, SUSAN, I'M A BREAST CANCER DOCTOR, SO ONCE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN MY FAMILY, I DECIDED TO CRUNCH SOME NUMBERS JUST TO DETERMINE MY RISK.

AND I LEARNED I WAS HIGH RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST CANCER.

>> SO AT A HIGHER RISK.

ONE IN EIGHT AMERICAN WOMEN WILL DEVELOP BREAST CANCER IN THEIR LIFETIME.

WHAT WERE THE ODDS AFTER YOU TOOK THIS TEST?

>> THE ONLINE TEST IS A BIG PICTURE THAT SAYS, YOU SHOULD SEEK A SPECIALIST.

AT THAT POINT BOTH MY SISTER AND MY MOTHER TESTED NEGATIVE FOR THE GENE YOU REFERRED TO EARLIER.

SO MY NEXT STEP WAS MEETING WITH A GENETIC COUNSELOR TO REALLY LEARN MY RISK, AND MINE WAS DOUBLE IF NOT TRIPLE OF THAT OF AN AVERAGE WOMAN.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO SUCH AN ELEVATED PROFILE FOR YOU >> SURE, AND I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST TAKE-HOME MESSAGE.

WE ALL ARE VERY DIFFERENT, AND HAVING A GENE MUTATION IS CERTAINLY THE MOST COMMON RISK FACTOR OUT THERE FOR WOMAN TO DEVELOPMENT BREAST CANCER AND OTHER CANCERS AS WELL.

FOR ME, MY RISK PROFILE DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT, BUT I WAS YOUNG WHEN I FIRST HAD MY PERIOD.

I HAD MY FIRST CHILD RATHER LATE IN LIFE, AND THOSE ARE BOTH HORMONE RELATED.

THERE WERE FACTORS THAT I HAD ON MY SIDE, BEING IN SHAPE, NOT DRINKING TOO MUCH ALCOHOL, BEING NORMAL BODY WEIGHT.

THOSE CAN BE RISK FACTORS, BUT THEY WEREN'T FOR ME, SO I WAS SURPRISED HOW HIGH MY RISK WAS GIVEN I HAD SOME THINGS IN MY POSITIVE COLUMN.

>> AND YOU ARE A HEALTHY PERSON?

>> YES, I'M SUPER HEALTHY, AND I AM DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE RISK, WHICH -- I AM ALWAYS ARGUING FOR WOMEN TO KNOW THEIR STORY, BECAUSE WE MAY THINK WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT IS A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL, THE AGE I HAD MY FIRST BABY, AND THE AGE I FIRST STARTED MENSTRUATING, PUT ME AT A HIGHER RISK.

>> SO YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO GO PUBLIC.

IS THIS WHY THAT THIS IS YET ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE ADVOCATES FOR OUR OWN HEALTH -- WE CAN THINK WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT SOMETIMES JUST PUTTING TOGETHER THE FAMILY STORY MAY -- MAY BE, YET, ANOTHER FINDING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT?

>> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT, AND IT IS MORE ABOUT -- WE ALL SHOULD JUST KNOW OUR STORIES, AND KNOW WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR HEALTH RISK.

WE ALL WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

EAT HEALTHY, AND EXERCISE, AND FOLLOW ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR SCREENING, BUT THAT CAN BE OVERWHELMING, AND IT'S NOT REASONABLE TO THINK WE SHOULD ALL KNOW THESE THINGS, BUT WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW IS JUST OUR STORY, AND I KNEW MY STORY, AND ONCE MY SISTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT, NOW BEING THE THIRD GENERATION, AND AS A BREAST CANCER DOCTOR, I'M WELL AWARE, AND MAY HAVE INSIDE INFORMATION.

SO LET ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE AT STAKE THAN MAYBE JUST CARRYING A GENE, AND THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.

YOU STARTED BY SAYING THAT I HAD A BILATERAL RECONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY, AND I'M VERY PUBLIC ABOUT IT, BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY PATHWAY.

THERE'S LOTS OF PATHWAYS.

ONE IS INCREASED SCREENING FOR EARLY DETECTION, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH AVAILABLE TO WOMEN ONCE THEY KNOW THEIR STORY.

IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO KNOW IT.

AND THEN MEETING WITH DOCTORS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE DO YOU FALL?

WHAT FEELS RIGHT TO YOU AS A PERSON, AS A WOMAN, WHAT PATHWAY DO YOU WANT TO BE ON ONCE YOU KNOW THAT STORY.

>> THE DECISION TO HAVE WHAT IS CALLED A PROPHYLACTIC MASSECTOMY CAN BE SUCH A DEVASTATING DECISION TO MAKE, AND MORE WOMEN ARE DOING IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S AN INTERNAL DECISION.

IT'S A PERSONAL DECISION.

IT'S A FAMILY DECISION.

I SAT DOWN WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY KIDS -- YOU KNOW, THEY WERE WATCHING MY SISTER GO THROUGH BREAST CANCER SURGERY AND CHEMO THERAPY, AND IF THERE WAS A SURGERY THAT COULD PREVENT THE MOTHER, THE WIFE, IS IF THERE IS A SURGERY TO PREVENT THAT, THAT DIDN'T BOTHER ME TOO MUCH, I WAS OKAY DOING IT.

BECAUSE OF PLASTIC SURGERY IT MADE IT OUTWARDLY EASIER FOR ME, BUT IT IS SUCH A PERSONAL DECISION.

>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW, DOCTOR?

>> I'M FEELING GREAT.

I AM -- I HAVE NEVER SECOND-GUESSED DOING THIS.

I'M DOING GREAT.

THE RECOVERY IS SUBSTANTIAL, BUT IT FEELS TO BE HERE AND BE WORKING.

>> AND YOUR PATIENTS, I'M SURE ARE ECSTATIC THAT YOU ARE BACK.

DOCTOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY, AND WE ALL WISH YOU CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH.

>> THANK YOU, SUSAN.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> COMING UP ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF THOSE GOING IN AND OUT OF SKY HARBOR.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A WOMAN IN THE ENGINEERING FIELD GIVES HER PERSPECTIVE ON THE MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY.

♪♪