Michelle S., Kansas City, MO

Age: 40

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

Favorite Song:
Nothin but a Good Time by Poison.

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My journey

My mother tested positive for brca2 in August of 2008 and died of uterine cancer at the age of 66 in November of 2008. She didn't want me to get tested until "next year" she said- I think she thought her death and if I tested positive would be too much for me. I tested positive for brca2 about a month after she died. We have multiple family members with both breast and ovarian cancer. I had a prophylactic ooph/hyst in Jan 2009 and prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in March of 2009 and have never had a cancer diagnosis. I am hoping to escape the fate of many family members.

The hardest part of my journey

My mother dying

If I could do it over again

Tested earlier before she died, that way everything would not have come down at once.

My participation with FORCE

When I first found out I felt somewhat uncomfortable writing that I was scared, I had just watched my mother die. I see that all of the recently tested ladies post that they have fear. I feel more normal here like someone understands my concerns for my health.

Other thoughts

My husband and I live on a lake and we are avid water skiers. There is a ski course set up and we are out 3-5 times a week on the lake in the summer. We also bike ride and walk. Our son is at MU and our daughter will graduate from high school this year.