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In 2016 my Aunt Cathy (paternal side) passed from ovarian cancer. Over five years after her initial diagnosis, her body succumbed to the cancer and she was lost. Her cousin, Rae was lost just a year prior to breast and ovarian cancer and as it turns out, almost every person in my family has died from cancer.

Both BRCA2+.

Some people have heart disease and diabetes or Alzheimer’s; we have cancer.

In 2020 my Uncle Brian (paternal again) died from prostate cancer. Another grueling battle fought and lost. Another member BRCA2+.

After more genetic history was revealed, I met with a genetic counselor at Kaiser and it was determined that indeed I did qualify for more genetic testing to search for mutations that could increase my risk of cancer. A quick blood test and then the waiting began.

I’m a person that obsesses over worst case scenarios, determines the best course of action prior to them happening and then when the disaster strikes, I’m completely prepared. So as I waited for my results I started to read. A lot. Medical journals and anecdotal blogs (like this one) anything I could find about people who were BRCA positive, which wasn’t much at the time.

My dad swore it was going to be negative. After all he was healthy, unlike his siblings that were dropping quick. He assumed if he wasn’t sick yet, then he didn’t carry the mutation. After all, he lived a “fun life” and if anyone was going to be sick it would be him over his oldest sister Cathy.

Being a practical and probably overly logical person, waiting for the news was easy. Either negative or positive. Simple. Nothing I can do about the results, so I dove into the solution. Every good problem has a good solution. I am blessed to have the BEST husband who is always on my side, supporting the decision that is best for me. And being around to grow old with and se our kids grow is the right decision.

Test results are in and color my dad’s surprise when my test results came back positive. Not only was it a “deep breath” for me but also for him as his mortality was now questioned. Since I had obsessed for a while, I knew what I was going to do.

Prophylactic double mastectomy with reconstruction.

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