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Diagnosis & Decisions

For some people being told you carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene fault is like a cancer diagnosis.

My mum and I

For me it was a combination of all of that plus fear, empowerment and knowledge. It's certainly a life experience dealing with your strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer and then finally finding out your family is not just unlucky "there is a reason for it".

I found out just before my wedding, when my first born Riley was 18 months old. Just before we went in to find my results my husband said to me "you know you have it". I looked into his eyes and said "I know babe". It nearly made finding out I was positive that much easier. I had come to terms with it before I even walked through the door.

Before I found out I didn't have a plan of what I would do to combat the scary statistics. Realistically the statistics said I had up to an 85% chance of getting breast cancer. Bearing in mind not every BRCA carrier gets breast cancer, but it had not skipped a generation yet in my family and my Nan and Mum were both carriers.

My wedding was just after I found out my results. I have to say it was the best distraction. It was by far the 4th best day of my life. Having my 2 babies and meeting my husband-to-be for the first time were my top 3. Life was great, but I constantly had the fear of being taken away from the 3 people I loved the most.

Dealing with the fear for my health I started feeling sick. I had headaches, breathing problems and vision problems. I went to hospital thinking I had asthma once, heart attack the second time, I had every scan and all were clear. Then finally my mum said read this... it was a print out on anxiety. My mum knew I had anxiety and it just took me a while to realise. Once I came out of the denial and came to terms with that, I focused on making the hardest decision yet..... Another baby or a mastectomy????.....

Was my desire for another baby my band aid solution for not wanting to deal with my BRCA1 diagnosis? I researched, talked to some incredible women, attended support groups and empowered myself with as much information as I could.

I finally realised my life was more important not only to me but to my family. I had to take action and put my future first.