Tag: BRCA2
I have the BRCA2 gene mutation that raised my risk to over a 90% chance I would have breast cancer.
Every woman that decides to have genetic testing has a reason. Mine was my family history. In 2018 my mother lost her battle with cancer. Breast cancer when she was 30 and again at 50. Then cervical, bladder and ultimately stomach cancer that took her life. Both her mother and grandmother also had breast cancer, so we believe that is where the gene comes from. One of my mother’s cousins died from Ovarian cancer.
My story is very different. I decided to find out my genetic risk and fight this on my own terms. I didn’t wait for cancer. With that, I am doing everything to ensure that I do not have to have cancer. Which resulted in some body altering decisions with a hysterectomy, followed by double mastectomy and reconstruction. I was 53 when I did this, older than most women, so the stories I saw were of much younger women going through this process.
I feel fortunate that everything has come back clear and that I caught this before it was a problem. Many women who undergo preventative surgery, end up only to find cancer at a very early stage. As a #previvor I have learned much about myself and how strong I am. I have not always had it easy going through the process. Others have had it far worse than I have. This is my story and what has happened as I have gone through this journey. It is my hopes that somehow my story will help someone else go through the process with a little more ease.
National Hereditary Cancer Week: A Previvor’s Perspective
National Hereditary Cancer Week is more than just a week on the calendar; it’s a lifeline for those of us who have faced the unique challenges that come with being a previvor. It’s a time to acknowledge and honor everyone living with a genetic mutation that increases their cancer risk, as well as the families […]
Tarot Cards that Indicate Healing
Today I want to explore Tarot cards and those that indicate healing. This is a series of explorations with Tarot on specific topics and how certain cards can indicate the essence of that topic. I recently did one on cheating that was rather enlightening. It is something that over time you will find easier to […]
Weekly Affirmation – Stay Strong
This week’s affirmation is as follows:
I just naturally find it easy to stay strong even during the hardest of times
Mother’s Day Memories
Mother’s Day is a tough one for me. It brings up all sorts of emotions and memories that were not always happy. I stumbled across a photo earlier this week and it has brought me back to my deepest wounds. The forsythia is just about done blooming behind us. What struck me was that my […]
2021 Ends, 2022 Begins
As I see 2021 ends on a positive note, it has been one of challenges and lots of new things. There has been growth for me. Some of it painful, some unexpected and other growth has been fully realized this year. My blessings outweigh my troubles and things are moving in the right direction. I […]
2022 Three Words – Respect, Manifest, Write
It is time to select my 2022 Three Words. Like many years the selection of these words takes all sorts of twists and turns. It is also a time to reflect on 2021 words. Bounce, engage and complete. I have learned to engage more with people this year and that is good. Bouncing was interesting, […]
Childhood Memories of Mandalas
Today I am filled with some childhood memories of mandalas. Perhaps it is because the 14th was my mother’s birthday, or in part it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But a lot of what is coming up is that year that my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was eight, my brother Tim was […]
National Previvor Day
Today is National Previvor Day, right in the middle of Nation Hereditary Cancer week. On September 15, 2010, history was made with the unanimous passage of H. Res. 1522. The Congressional resolution declaring the first-ever National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Week and National Previvor Day. Last year, FORCE renamed the week to recognize […]
Weekly Affirmation – Dealing with Menopause
Dealing with menopause is a rite of passage. I am not a doctor, but I have been dealing with menopause for awhile now. It isn’t always fun, but I have learned to deal with the changes with grace. How about trying an affirmation to change your mindset? This week’s affirmation is as […]
Don’t call me BRAVE…
Originally I wrote this on March 23, 2019. Today I understand how brave I was to make these decisions about my life. It was a very difficult two years of my life. Since then I have learned bravery is pushing through the fear and doing what is necessary. Even if you are terrified. In the […]