Tina Kuhr, North Carolina

Age: 50

BRCA1 and BRCA 2 + Increased surveillance. Prophylactic Oophorectomy Mastectomies (after diagnosis) with implant on left breast and lat flap

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

Favorite Quote:
During the fellowship time after my congregation's worship service one week, I met a breast cancer survivor who told me, "Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second, millisecond by millisecond, the good Lord carried me through." I had e

Favorite Superhero:
My Dad - who helped me through my surgeries. He also took care of my mom after her mastectomy back in 1980, and took care of her during her final illness and death from cancer in 1995.

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My journey

I’m 50, divorced with two sons, and of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. My maternal grandmother, great aunt (grandmother's sister), aunt (mother's sister), and my mother all had breast cancer. I was tested after I too was diagnosed with breast cancer. I lost my mother to cancer of the common bile duct; my older sister is also a breast cancer survivor.

The hardest part of my journey

Being diagnosed with cancer a second time - and having a massive MRSA infection after surgery.

If I could do it over again

If I had known how likely it was that I would have a second breast cancer, I might have chosen to have a double mastectomy when I was first diagnosed, rather than choosing a lumpectomy and radiation. I could have avoided two surgeries and chemotherapy.

My participation with FORCE

It is helpful to know that I am not alone in this battle.

Other thoughts

I am a single mother of two boys - my ex and I were separated 2 years before my first diagnosis. I worked full time as an engineer while going through radiation therapy in 2000 and chemotherapy in 2006.

My congregation and the Mothers of Middle Schoolers group at my boys' school was a great help to me. My heroines are Patti M. and Janet R. my "Laundry Fairies"; Julie W. who stayed with me when I had a bad drug reaction and wouldn't take “No” for an answer from my doctor; Rachel Z., who didn't know me but offered to take me to chemo; and all those people who brought me meals, sent me cards, or prayed for me. They are ordinary people who serve an extraordinary God. Some times our job is to provide other people an opportunity to serve.