Holley, Dallas, Texas

Age: 24

I'm 24 and single with no kids.

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

Favorite book / authors:
Sex and the City, Bitter Is the New Black, The Time Traveler’s Wife

Favorite Quote:
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Favorite Song:
Last Dance with Mary Jane, by Tom Petty or Hypnotize, by Biggie

Other favorites?
My parents. They inspire me every day.

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My journey

Found out about BRCA1+ status between 6 months to one year ago. Tested because paternal grandmother had breast cancer, maternal aunt and cousin had ovarian cancer. Pancreatic and prostate cancers also run in my family. I have not had cancer. I have managed my risk with increased surveillance and a prophylactic mastectomy. I had tissue expanders for 3 months, and received my permanent silicone implants in April 2009. I will hopefully complete my reconstruction this winter.

The hardest part of my journey

The hardest part of my journey has been finding someone to relate to. All of this technology is so new that I don’t know of any other women my age who are single and have chosen to have a prophylactic mastectomy. It seems that most women I know are either older, or married, or actually have cancer. The emotions and fears and questions that I have seem different than most other women who have had this surgery.

If I could do it over again

I know I made the right decision for myself, and I have not regretted any of it for a single minute. My goal now is to be a voice and hopefully reach out to as many women as possible to share this incredible opportunity.

My participation with FORCE

I didn’t find out about Force until after my surgery, but I think it is awesome, and I can’t wait to see it grow and affect lives. I will be active and want to help in any way that I can!

Other thoughts

I have an absolutely amazing support system between my family and my friends. My friends threw me a “Say Ta-Ta to Holley’s Ta-ta’s” party right before my surgery, and it was a blast. I want to be an advocate for BRCA genetic testing, and I want to help or talk to any young woman who has ever considered having this testing or who is at high risk for breast cancer. I feel like it is my job to make sure that young women have more information than I did, and especially someone to relate to going through this.