Barbara, Odessa, TX

Age: 46

I'm more than my risk… some fun facts about myself:

Favorite Quote:
Dance like no one is watching.

Favorite Song:
Moonriver.

My journey

Found out about BRCA1+ status in December 2007. I was tested because of my family history, my mother died at 38 from bc. Maternal Grandmother had bc at 38 and died from ovarian at 52. Maternal Aunt had bc at 38, ovarian at 42 and bc again in her 50's. Sister diagnosed with bc 10/07. I have not had cancer. Had an OOPH/ hysterectomy, and a double prophylactic mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction.

The hardest part of my journey

There really hasn't been a hardest part. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to choose life. My mother never had that opportunity. I lost her to breast cancer when I was only 9 years old. So, perhaps that is the hardest part of my journey - growing up without her, getting married without her, having children without her.

If I could do it over again

There isn't anything that I would have done differently.

My participation with FORCE

I enjoy reading all of the information on the site. It is good to know that we are not alone in this.

Other thoughts

I am very positive about this experience. I recovered quickly from both the ooph/hysterectomy and the bilateral prophylactic mastectomies. I feel that I have been given an opportunity that my mother was never offered and I am so grateful for that.

I have 3 grown boys. My ethnic background is Ashkenazi Jewish, French, and German.