My BRCA Journal - The First Step

After receiving the news that I inherited a genetic mutation called BRCA2 my life got busier and I tried to downplay how that affected my worldview.

I love to connect with people but it’s hard to open up in this fast world. Here I share my feelings, thoughts, and my journey living with BRCA2. 

Feel free to join for a conversation if you or someone you love is also affected by this genetic mutation.

If cancer runs in your family, you should ask questions.

Cancer may be present because of genetic reasons and not because of your lifestyle. Ask questions about your immediate family’s and relatives’ health problems.

My beloved godmother died last year. She was only in her sixties, too young to die, too sweet to be bitter. She got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the cancer spread in her quickly. We lost her within a year.

Her death opened another layer of hell.

Doctors found a genetic mutation in her and asked the immediate family to run a BRCA blood test. My mom also tested positive, so I had to test myself too.

For more than a year I was postponing the test because the grief was heavy enough to carry.

Knowing how lucky I am, I had zero hope of not inheriting the mutation. As it soon turned out, I was right. I have the BRCA2 mutation and got bombed with lots of information about my chances of getting cancer, the preventions I can take, and the hope that this mutation ends with me or with my kids (if they inherited the BRCA2).

Life is short — and every now and then I get this reminder.

As far as my mental state is capable, I take this challenge lightly. Cancer has killed both of my grandfathers, one of my grandmothers, and my godmother, who taught me everything practical in life.

She shaped me, so cancer tried to kill a part of me.

Cancer also endangered two of my cousins' lives. I won’t take revenge, that's not my job, but I fight that intruder.

I won’t let cancer win.

So, I decided to prevent chemotherapy. To prevent hard news, heartbreak, death threats, and the feeling of helplessness.

I do my best and I let you peek into my thoughts about how it goes.

The Witty Witch