Why We Wear Pink in October
Why do people wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Because it’s way cuter than a hospital gown!
This October, we’re celebrating one year of my 74-year-old mom living through Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer.
It’s been a rollercoaster of treatments, appointments, scans, and therapies; but we made it!
It also opened the conversation for our family to discuss cancer and do genetic testing.
Our results have been very surprising.
You might be familiar with the BRCA gene as the bad guy behind breast cancer, but did you know there are others that you should look out for?
Rare Gene Mutations Leading to Breast Cancer
My mom, sister, and I had a full panel work-up that revealed a rare mutation of the CDH1 gene.
This gene mutation puts us at a 33-42% higher risk for stomach cancer and a 27-52% higher risk of breast cancer than the general population.
Both cancers have heavily affected my maternal family, so finding that gene mutation made total sense.
My Journey To Getting Tested For Cancer in My 30’s
As a disabled person with stomach issues unrelated to cancer, this sent red flags to my team of doctors.
During the spring, while I was recovering from bunion surgery, I was also doing Zoom calls to navigate my next steps with preventative scans and finding specialists to help me continue to monitor the possible development of these cancers.
Needless to say, it’s been a crazy year!
So far, my testing has come back clear, which is great. I know I’ll have a lot ahead of me, though.
How To Save Your Own Life
My biggest takeaway is to do genetic testing and be proactive about getting your yearly mammograms, etc. Pay attention to your bodies, take care of yourselves, and advocate for your needs in a medical setting.
As many have said, including my mom, a 30-minute scan once a year (or spitting in a tube for genetic testing!) is easier than going through cancer. You could literally be saving your own life!
