Beth C., Philadelphia, PA

Age: 48

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

Favorite Quote:
"You must get your living by loving" by Henry David Thoreau

Favorite Song:
"Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers.

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My journey

My dad, his mother and her mother all had breast cancer before age 50 and two of my dad's cousins had ovarian cancer. I found out through a research study at Fox Chase Cancer Center that my dad and all of that side of the family are BRCA2+. I am the only female of my generation and decided on high surveillance as I was in my late 30’s at the time. However, at the urging of my breast surgeon (who is also a family friend) I had an oophorectomy in April 2002. Again, in 2006, he urged me to look into the PBM since I had been having pains in both breasts for 6 months.

The hardest part of my journey

I developed two massive staph infections and lost the left implant. I later had an expander put in. June 23, 2008 was hopefully my last surgery with the exchange and final reconstruction.

Other thoughts

I am now happily married for the second time and very lucky that my husband is so supportive of me. I am very family oriented and glad that everyone has stood by me. You really know who your friends are when going through this journey. I have been and always will be on the soapbox for women being vigilant with checkups and mammograms.
I probably talk too much and too long. And now I am a force to be reckoned with as a FORCE supporter. I am trying to give back what I have been given by FORCE, my friends there and my friends at home. If I help just one person get through their journey a little easier, then I feel I have made a difference.