I remember the exact moment my journey began. I was 18 years old & my 40 yr old mother found a lump in her breast. And so began my learning curve on breast cancer, survival & hereditary mutations.

Breast cancer wasn’t spoken about or understood back then. We whispered it. We didn’t tell anyone. My mother’s surgery was terrifying – but she was an amazingly strong woman & she was a survivor.

Over the years she was vigilant & we talked openly in our family about breast cancer. Over the next 10 years people started to wear pink & the breast cancer education process was raising awareness. My mum was a survivor – she had beaten breast cancer. Then 20 years later – she had an irregular smear. I remember the phone call. All I can remember are the words ‘Ovarian Cancer’... oh please, not again...
So she bravely battled a very rare Fallopian Tube cancer, and we all prayed – she had the most amazing oncologists & doctors – but she lost her short & horrific battle. She was 60 years old.

I remember during this time, she talked of a hereditary cancer test. I was a closed book though. I think my female intuition knew it was going to be positive, so I brushed the idea aside. I never knew my grandmother; she had died before I was born. She was 40 years old. No one ever really talked about how she died – I guess it was too painful. But I knew at this moment, that there was more to our story.

My mother had been tested before she passed away & earlier this year I summoned the courage to go ahead & take the step. I am a carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation. I knew it!! I’m glad my result was positive. What would I have done if I tested negative? At least I had a plan now. I took the test, knowing that I WOULD have the preventative surgery. It wasn’t an option to be ‘vigilant’ – for me this is a ‘no-brainer’; I was taking steps to rid myself of this insidious disease.

The thing that has struck me mostly is how little information there is for women like us. No brochure or pamphlet. I sat in the surgeon’s waiting room – there were brochures on every disease & procedure imaginable – chickenpox, Botox, detox... blah blah blah... But nothing that says “So you’re having a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy”. Thank goodness for Pink Hope.

So I am booked in for my bilateral mastectomy on May 22nd. I am opting for an immediate reconstruction. I am booked in for an oopherectomy in July. I have menopause to look forward to – a reason to be moody... But menopause is a much better option than ovarian cancer.

I have a wonderful husband, 2 beautiful little boys & everything to live for. This is my decision & my journey and I am ready.

I’m so glad to have met the girls from Pink Hope – it’s like belonging to an amazing group of inspiring women. Well, they have certainly inspired me on my journey.  I’ll keep you posted....