“I had my ovaries removed at 19 and got skin cancer aged 21”

A woman has told how she made the difficult decision to have her ovaries removed aged 19 to stop her developing cancer.

Emily Balck, 24, was diagnosed with Turner syndrome when she was in the womb.

The condition makes her five times more likely to develop skin cancer and 30% more likely to develop ovarian cancer had her ovaries removed aged just 19.

In addition to having her ovaries removed as a teen, she also had skin cancer on her neck aged 22.

Emily from Salem, Oregon, said: “It can be pretty lonely to have the condition and it’s pretty shocking to get cancer at such a young age but I’m not letting it get in the way of living my life to the fullest.”

The condition affects 1 in 2,000 women and is caused by one of the X chromosomes (sex chromosomes) being missing.

It can cause a variety of medical and developmental problems, including short height, failure of the ovaries to develop, heart defects, and increased likelihood of certain forms of cancer.

Her parents knew about her diagnosis before she was born – a rarity given that most people are not aware they have it until they reach adolescence.

Emily said: "I was very fortunate where my parents were able to find specialists."

For 13 years Emily participated in research studies where specialists ran various tests on her, checking hormone levels and cognitive development.

In her journey, she found an endocrinologist who specialises in Turner syndrome and has been instrumental in her care.

Emily said: "He has been super helpful.

“When you’re little, the main concerns are growth issues and cognitive development issues.

“The older you get, there’s a lot more that comes into play."

Emily was monitored to ensure she went through puberty and continues to be monitored for increased cancer risks.

In early college, at just 19, she faced a significant decision due to ovarian failure - which is common among people with Turner's syndrome - and opted for surgery to remove her ovaries to mitigate cancer risks.

Emily said: "Making that decision was really difficult, but I felt at peace about it as the best health decision for myself."

Her health journey took another turn when she was diagnosed with melanoma on her neck aged just 21.

"It was pretty shocking, it’s such a young age to get skin cancer at 22."

A major surgery on her neck followed, but early detection prevented the cancer from spreading.

Emily said: "Having to go through all of the cancer screenings was pretty intense when you’re in college you just want to be having fun and not thinking about your health."

Turner syndrome's impact varies greatly from person to person - most people with the condition lead full and healthy lives, though there is a slight decrease in life expectancy, according to the NHS.

"Right now, it’s more just being vigilant,” Emily said.

“I'm on a series of medications to take every day, and that’s really the only thing I need to think about at the moment."