Soraya
“Early detection and genetic testing saved my life!”
Soraya
For a number of years, I knew there was an elephant in the room. My beautiful mom had died of ovarian cancer at the young age of 48, and I knew that even though my yearly exams were all normal, it was possible that I might be at a higher risk of the same disease. In addition to my mom, we have also lost my mom’s father and her brother to cancer. But since I was feeling healthy, I didn’t see any reason to look for trouble!
About a year and a half ago, I needed to find a new GYN after a family move. My new doctor took one look at my family history, together with the fact that I was now over 50 years of age, and advised that I should seriously consider having a total hysterectomy as a preventative measure against ovarian cancer. In March 2019, he ordered screening tests, including a CA125 blood test, a vaginal ultrasound, and a cat scan—and everything came back normal. Since those tests were all normal, I asked that we delay the hysterectomy until November to accommodate my busy business schedule. And that was the plan until the end of June when I started feeling something was wrong. I was experiencing a severe bloated feeling, back pain, kidney stones and spotting and knew that something wasn’t right. At that point my doctor did not want to wait until November, and I had a full hysterectomy on July 10th. My doctor did not see any signs of cancer during the surgery—everything looked fine to the naked eye. But when I went in for my follow-up appointment, I was very surprised to learn that the pathology had come back and that I did, in fact, have Stage 2 ovarian cancer.
My beautiful mom had died of ovarian cancer at the young age of 48, and I knew that even though my yearly exams were all normal, it was possible that I might be at a higher risk of the same disease.
I shared the news of my ovarian cancer diagnosis with my family and very close friends and from that moment my life changed! At first I was confused and upset, but after those first few days I felt completely at peace and confident that this was just another journey in my life and that my faith in God would walk me through this. About this time, my doctor recommended that I undergo genetic testing and we learned that I was positive for the BRCA1 genetic mutation, which also put me at very high risk for breast cancer in addition to the ovarian cancer I already had. I knew then that a preventative double mastectomy was in my future—after I finished chemotherapy for my ovarian cancer. But I didn’t have to wait to start pushing my family members and friends to have genetic testing!
12 of my family members and friends have now undergone genetic testing, including 5 cousins, an aunt, 2 of my mom’s cousins and my daughter—just from my own family. Out of the family members, 6 of us have tested positive for genetic mutations. The latest to test positive was my precious 25-year old daughter, Nicole, who tested positive for BRCA1.
My life has been a whirlwind since my first surgery last July, and I have had three additional surgeries since then in addition to my chemotherapy. I have now finished chemo and my hair is even coming back! And in a few weeks, I will be having my second preventative breast cancer surgery, with one final surgery to be scheduled after that.
I am so thankful that I am alive today to tell you how important it is that we listen to our bodies and to our doctors. We often feel invincible, but now I know that is not the case. Early detection and genetic testing saved my life! My message to my friends and family is simple: if you have a family member that had or has cancer, you should consider genetic testing. What do you have to lose?
“Early detection and genetic testing saved my life!”
Soraya
For a number of years, I knew there was an elephant in the room. My beautiful mom had died of ovarian cancer at the young age of 48, and I knew that even though my yearly exams were all normal, it was possible that I might be at a higher risk of the same disease. In addition to my mom, we have also lost my mom’s father and her brother to cancer. But since I was feeling healthy, I didn’t see any reason to look for trouble!
About a year and a half ago, I needed to find a new GYN after a family move. My new doctor took one look at my family history, together with the fact that I was now over 50 years of age, and advised that I should seriously consider having a total hysterectomy as a preventative measure against ovarian cancer. In March 2019, he ordered screening tests, including a CA125 blood test, a vaginal ultrasound, and a cat scan—and everything came back normal. Since those tests were all normal, I asked that we delay the hysterectomy until November to accommodate my busy business schedule. And that was the plan until the end of June when I started feeling something was wrong. I was experiencing a severe bloated feeling, back pain, kidney stones and spotting and knew that something wasn’t right. At that point my doctor did not want to wait until November, and I had a full hysterectomy on July 10th. My doctor did not see any signs of cancer during the surgery—everything looked fine to the naked eye. But when I went in for my follow-up appointment, I was very surprised to learn that the pathology had come back and that I did, in fact, have Stage 2 ovarian cancer.
My beautiful mom had died of ovarian cancer at the young age of 48, and I knew that even though my yearly exams were all normal, it was possible that I might be at a higher risk of the same disease.
I shared the news of my ovarian cancer diagnosis with my family and very close friends and from that moment my life changed! At first I was confused and upset, but after those first few days I felt completely at peace and confident that this was just another journey in my life and that my faith in God would walk me through this. About this time, my doctor recommended that I undergo genetic testing and we learned that I was positive for the BRCA1 genetic mutation, which also put me at very high risk for breast cancer in addition to the ovarian cancer I already had. I knew then that a preventative double mastectomy was in my future—after I finished chemotherapy for my ovarian cancer. But I didn’t have to wait to start pushing my family members and friends to have genetic testing!
12 of my family members and friends have now undergone genetic testing, including 5 cousins, an aunt, 2 of my mom’s cousins and my daughter—just from my own family. Out of the family members, 6 of us have tested positive for genetic mutations. The latest to test positive was my precious 25-year old daughter, Nicole, who tested positive for BRCA1.
My life has been a whirlwind since my first surgery last July, and I have had three additional surgeries since then in addition to my chemotherapy. I have now finished chemo and my hair is even coming back! And in a few weeks, I will be having my second preventative breast cancer surgery, with one final surgery to be scheduled after that.
I am so thankful that I am alive today to tell you how important it is that we listen to our bodies and to our doctors. We often feel invincible, but now I know that is not the case. Early detection and genetic testing saved my life! My message to my friends and family is simple: if you have a family member that had or has cancer, you should consider genetic testing. What do you have to lose?