Ticking Time Bombs

Your life prior to being diagnosed with with BRCA 2 gene…

My name is Sarah Taylor, my life before the BRCA2 gene was about looking after my mum who was battling breast cancer, trying to do my apprenticeship in hairdressing and experiencing my late teens. I was only 21 when I found out my mum was a BRCA 2 carrier and unfortunately breast cancer has always been apart of my life my Great Grandmother was diagnosed in her 60's my Grandmother in her 50's and my mum in her 40's.

What process did you have to endure to learn about your BRCA 2 gene?

I had to go into Royal North Shore Hospital and a have blood test done so the professor could compare it to my mothers positive result, I walked away feeling slightly uneasy and thinking the wait for the results was going to seem like a lifetime. After 2 weeks my genetic councillor called me she told me my test was in and could I make a time to pop down to the hospital to discuss the results. Now I can be a pretty smooth talker and I explained I didn’t really want to make a big trip for an hour and a half and drag my mum all the way down there just for a negative result. The poor councillor said Sarah I need you come to the appointment so I began to ramble the same speech again she stops me Sarah….. I need you to come to the appointment unfortunately you have tested positive for the BRCA 2 Gene.

My body starts to shake and all I can think about is I feel like somehow I have let my mum down. I take a few minutes to gather myself and I call my mum one of the worst phone calls I have had to make she picks up and I blurt it out like I cannot hold it in, she instantly reassures me and starts to make me realize that I can get on top of this, that having this knowledge is power.

How did you decide on the treatment/procedure to have?

I am currently on the waiting list for a preventive double mastectomy with a reduction surgery first then the double mastectomy then a reconstruction surgery. I have had many mixed reactions to the steps I am taking but I know this journey is right for me I have seen so many women in my family suffer the fate of breast cancer and I would love to be the one to break the chain. Mum and I have done our best to share our BRCA mutation with my aunts and uncles and unfortunately they choose not be tested it is a decision I cannot understand but I will respect.

How is life since your diagnoses/procedure?

This diagnosis has given me the chance to share my experiences and has helped me to connect with so many women and even be able to help them understand what it means to be a BRCA carrier. My life now involves talking more about my BRCA diagnosis and taking the steps to get myself ready for surgery. I have also started to talk more to my two little children about it hoping I can instill in them the idea knowledge is power.

Share a comical or positive experience since your diagnosis/procedure?

When I became pregnant we did a big gender cake reveal with all of our family and we found we were having a little girl. After everyone had left our house I sat down next to my husband and said have you thought about what it means to have a little girl obviously referring to my BRCA Gene my husband put his hand over mine and says Yes I know the teenager years are going to be hard but don’t worry together we will get through them. This moment always makes me laugh and put things into perspective for me if I think this BRCA Gene journey is hard wait until my daughter hits puberty.

Advice or words of encouragement you would like to share with women recently tested positive for BRCA gene.

The best advice I was given was from my mum she said to me Do what feels right for you, No one can make this decision for you. I worked on gaining as much knowledge as I could, I joined supportive groups and went along to events focusing on BRAC mutations and women sharing there experience,s this helped me feel more of a connection to other women and soon that feeling of loneliness went away. Be confident in your decisions and always know what you have decided is right for you and no one else.

#BRCA #BRAC2