16/05/2023
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to talk about this online, but as I try to integrate this news into my life, it feels authentic to address it in my practice (which I gratefully share with all of you❤️) for it’s always been my most vulnerable space.
In January, my sister was diagnosed as a positive carrier for a BRCA2 genetic mutation that she inherited from my dad. Last month, I was diagnosed as a carrier myself.
For us women, this means we’re sitting at around a 90% chance of breast cancer in our lifetime, ~30% chance of ovarian cancer, and elevated risk for several other types of cancer. For my dad, he has an elevated risk for aggressive prostate and pancreatic cancer.
It’s been a tough season of life. A lot of fear for the future of my family, some grief, many heavy days digesting the information, endless questions, hard decisions, but also so much gratitude.
I’m grateful for the doctors educating and empowering me to make my own medical decisions, for my family and being in this all together, for my partner as we navigate our shared future, for my friends, coworkers, and other loved ones for their endless support, and for my healthy and able body as it is today ❤️
And to all of you reading this right now, thank you for contributing to a space where I feel supported to share❤️
I’m not quite sure how much I plan to share about this journey on this page, but time shall tell 💛 and in the meantime, I’d love to hear from those who’ve been touched by a similar situation. My DMs are always open (though it takes me approx. 25 years to respond to them sometimes so sorry ily 🫶)!
