When I decided to be tested for a BRCA mutation I knew a few things
-I had several female relatives who had passed away at young ages from breast and ovarian cancer
-I had a cousin who had developed breast cancer and was found to carry a mutation
I was seen by the cancer genetics department and determined by a genetic counselor to be a candidate for testing. I had the blood drawn and received my positive results about 3 weeks later. Because we did not know if my father carried the mutation, my chance at the time of the test was a 1 in 4 chance of being positive. Since my test was positive we now know my dad was a carrier, which means my siblings have a 50/50 shot of being positive.
Once you know you carry this mutation, the conversation starts about how to mitigate the risk of developing cancer. Basically that means either:
-Surveillance- MRI/Mammogram every 6 months as well as Pelvic U/S and Ca125
-Surgery- Ovarian removal and bilateral mastectomies
I'm not sure many people really "get" how hard that is.
NO ONE wants to have mutilating surgery. NO ONE.
Actually I never realized how much I loved my breasts until I realized I was going to lose them at some point really sunk in. They've always been too big...and I hate having to buy big bras with essentially steel frames to support them. And they've always been that way, since I was 15.
I thought maybe a reduction might be nice...but I never seriously considered it. Much less complete mastectomy and reconstruction.
Many considered Angelina Jolie crazy to have had risk reducing surgery.
To me she is a hero.
And sometimes during your risk reducing surgery...they find cancer.
That's what happened to me.
In one moment I went from a Previvor to a Survivor.
So I ask you...
For me, the true silver lining is the knowledge to prevent a worse alternative. Be it early detection or preventative surgery. I will survive and be the first woman to have beaten ovarian cancer in my family.
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