Tracy
“My BRCA2 gene started the fight, but I am going to finish it!”
Tracy
My previvor journey started when I was 18 years old and I found a lump in my left breast while taking a shower. My heart jumped to my throat! I felt my stomach drop and begin to churn as if someone’s hands were crushing it. My doctor immediately sent me for a mammogram, and the results showed a mass. Within days, I had a lumpectomy that proved the mass to be benign. One year later to the day, I underwent another lumpectomy for another mass which was also benign. Every 6 months I had to have screenings such as mammograms, ultrasounds or MRIs. This process was extremely stressful and I had an enormous amount of scanxiety.
“I know my difficult decision to undergo risk-reducing surgeries and become a Previvor was the right decision.”
Right before my 21st birthday, I went for my routine scan and the ultrasound showed there was yet another mass that had not been detected on the mammogram. At this point I already had 2 scars around my nipples–I needed to dig deeper. My breast surgeon suggested I undergo genetic testing due to my family history of cancer (I lost an aunt at age 40 due to breast cancer) and because I am of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. I went to the hospital and watched a video about genetics before having the genetic testing done. When my test results came back, I learned I was BRCA2 positive. My results were given to me by an RN, not by a physician, geneticist, or a genetic counselor, and I was lost and confused. This was in 2004, prior to the Angelina Jolie BRCA information era. Doing my own research and looking for clinical trials was my mission, because there was not a lot of information out there.
When I was 32 years old, I made the difficult decision to undergo a prophylactic robotic hysterectomy and prophylactic bilateral mastectomies because my risk for ovarian and breast cancers was very high with my BRCA2 positive status. My hysterectomy went pretty smoothly, but my bilateral mastectomies have been more challenging, with issues continuing to this day. Regardless of the challenges I’ve faced, I know my difficult decision to undergo risk-reducing surgeries and become a Previvor was the right decision.
In facing the challenges of my BRCA2 positive test results and my numerous surgeries, I often felt isolated and alone. As a result of my experiences, in 2015 I formed BRCAStrong, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization built on the very foundation of supporting Previvors, Thrivers, and Survivors (www.BRCAStrong.org). Whether routine monitoring or preventative surgery, we help through the journey. Our mission is to support, educate, inspire and empower Previvors, Thrivers, and Survivors, to eliminate the feeling of isolation and help them feel whole again. BRCAStrong strives to alleviate the emotional and financial burdens of women facing genetically predisposed breast and/or ovarian cancer through advocacy, direct assistance, empowerment, fundraising initiatives and events. We started with one member and now have over 2,200 female members nationwide. My BRCA2 gene started the fight, but I am going to finish it!
but I am going to finish it!”
Tracy
“My BRCA2 gene started the fight, but I am going to finish it!”
Tracy
My previvor journey started when I was 18 years old and I found a lump in my left breast while taking a shower. My heart jumped to my throat! I felt my stomach drop and begin to churn as if someone’s hands were crushing it. My doctor immediately sent me for a mammogram, and the results showed a mass. Within days, I had a lumpectomy that proved the mass to be benign. One year later to the day, I underwent another lumpectomy for another mass which was also benign. Every 6 months I had to have screenings such as mammograms, ultrasounds or MRIs. This process was extremely stressful and I had an enormous amount of scanxiety.
“I know my difficult decision to undergo risk-reducing surgeries and become a Previvor was the right decision.”
Right before my 21st birthday, I went for my routine scan and the ultrasound showed there was yet another mass that had not been detected on the mammogram. At this point I already had 2 scars around my nipples–I needed to dig deeper. My breast surgeon suggested I undergo genetic testing due to my family history of cancer (I lost an aunt at age 40 due to breast cancer) and because I am of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. I went to the hospital and watched a video about genetics before having the genetic testing done. When my test results came back, I learned I was BRCA2 positive. My results were given to me by an RN, not by a physician, geneticist, or a genetic counselor, and I was lost and confused. This was in 2004, prior to the Angelina Jolie BRCA information era. Doing my own research and looking for clinical trials was my mission, because there was not a lot of information out there.
When I was 32 years old, I made the difficult decision to undergo a prophylactic robotic hysterectomy and prophylactic bilateral mastectomies because my risk for ovarian and breast cancers was very high with my BRCA2 positive status. My hysterectomy went pretty smoothly, but my bilateral mastectomies have been more challenging, with issues continuing to this day. Regardless of the challenges I’ve faced, I know my difficult decision to undergo risk-reducing surgeries and become a Previvor was the right decision.
In facing the challenges of my BRCA2 positive test results and my numerous surgeries, I often felt isolated and alone. As a result of my experiences, in 2015 I formed BRCAStrong, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization built on the very foundation of supporting Previvors, Thrivers, and Survivors (www.BRCAStrong.org). Whether routine monitoring or preventative surgery, we help through the journey. Our mission is to support, educate, inspire and empower Previvors, Thrivers, and Survivors, to eliminate the feeling of isolation and help them feel whole again. BRCAStrong strives to alleviate the emotional and financial burdens of women facing genetically predisposed breast and/or ovarian cancer through advocacy, direct assistance, empowerment, fundraising initiatives and events. We started with one member and now have over 2,200 female members nationwide. My BRCA2 gene started the fight, but I am going to finish it!