My name is Antoinette (Toni) and I am a BRCA2 Previvor (reconstruction via DIEP & PAP flap). I am nearing my eighth month post my first surgery and still in my physical recovery phase (mental recovery will be on going for the rest of my life). So here’s my story in a nutshell, that’s not so much of a nutshell. My mother found a lump in her chest in 2014, diagnosis: stage I breast cancer, BRCA2+. As we went through her recovery process, my personal doctor made me aware that I should go for genetic testing; I declined. My mother was the main source of income in my household and she would be out of commission; it wasn’t on the top of my list of things to handle.
Fast forward to 2016: annual checkup, lump in my breast which is normal, I’m prone to cystic breast. My doctor reminded me of genetic testing, this time I set my appointment. I met with a Genetic Counselor and completed blood work in the beginning of October 2016.
I received my BRCA positive result in October, just a few days before my 25th birthday (Yup what a gift)!
Immediately I pushed for preventative care over monitoring. Being 24, they asked me to wait six months before proceeding with my decision, to ensure that’s what I wanted. Four months later, I called in and said I want to proceed (super impatient) and what seemed like thousands of doctors appointments later, I had a surgery date in September 2018. With a three month recovery, my second surgery would take place December 2018.
Now, here I am sharing my journey!
Of course, there’s a whole lot of branches in this tree, but again this is just the nutshell. If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or if you for a fact know that one of your parents are BRCA positive, please be in the know and get genetic testing, it is truly in your best interest. You cannot help yourself if you’re ignorant to your status.
What is BRCA ?
Let’s touch the basic’s. What is BRCA – I hope to make this as understandable as possible, I’ve read it on pamphlets, heard it from doctors, and still was like ok wtf- all I got is it’s a genetic mutation, but what does that mean…Here’s the breakdown:
1.BRCA Genes produce tumor suppressor proteins.
2. When there’s a break in your DNA (DNA makes up a gene) those suppressor proteins that your BRCA genes produce will go to that break and repair it.
3.When your BRCA Gene has a mutation (which means that you’re BRCA+) that break may not be repaired correctly, therefore there is a chance that a tumor can develop which can cause cancer.
Example time: You cut yourself deeply, you go to the doctors to get stitches, the doctor only sews up half of the cut because he runs out of thread, the other half of your cut remains open—there’s a chance that the cut will self heal with no complications yet, there is also a chance that it will get infected. That’s kind of how your BRCA genes work.
It is always important to know that everyone has BRCA genes that they get from each parent, If you’re BRCA positive there’s a 50% chance that you can pass it your child.
Representation is so important!
When I started this journey, it was so hard finding someone that looked like me, on top of that it was really hard finding someone of any nationality that had both Diep and Pap flap surgeries. I, too, want to be a part of the solution of available information to other women who are looking for a source of relatable guidance. Making such permanent decisions especially in your twenties can be overwhelming and scary.
