Tania R, Wisconsin

Age: 45

BC at age 43; Mastectomy with expander; BRCA2+; prophylactic mastectomy with bi-lateral lat flap. Finally prophylactic oophorectomy and hysterectomy;

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

Favorite book / authors:
Iris Johansen

Favorite Quote:
“I can't do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.”

Favorite Song:
“You raise me up” by Josh Groban. I listened to it over and over again when I thought I could go no further. It always raised me up.

Other favorites?
My favorite pastimes:
Quilting, reading and scrapbooking.

My favorite vacation destination:
Any island where there is a white beach, lots of sunshine and good snorkeling.

My hope for the future:
A world where children can grow up without the fear of cancer.

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My journey

I was diagnosed with breast cancer May 31, 2006 and had surgery, chemo and radiation. I have only an aunt on my father's side that had breast cancer at age 62, so I wasn't considered high-risk. After a lot of discussion with my genetics counselor, I went ahead and got tested for the BRCA gene -- not only for me, but also for my family. I got the results back in April 2007 and tested positive for BRCA2. Because of that, I had a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side with lattissimus flap reconstruction on both sides. In December 2007, I had hysterectomy and oophorectomy and am currently on Aromasin.

The hardest part of my journey

Seeing the irreparable damage to my body due to the treatments and surgery. Realizing that I am not in control of my destiny. Losing my expander three months after surgery. Seeing myself in the mirror without a breast made it very real. We have to find a cure. Not just for me, but for my family and so many others who are touched by this devastating disease.

If I could do it over again

Worked less and rested more during treatment. Allowed others to help out more. Taken a little more time to look at all the options before starting down the path of treatment.

My participation with FORCE

I connected with a lot of wonderful ladies during Chat-a-thon 2008. It was so wonderful to be able to talk to others that have walked the same road. Some are ahead of me on the road and some behind. I hope that I can help somebody else along the way.

Other thoughts

I’m 45 years old and married to a wonderful husband who has been so supportive throughout the past two years. I’m also blessed with a very loving and compassionate son in his early teens. I have a brother who has not yet been tested and a sister who tested negative, both with small children.

What I’ve learned from cancer:
• Don’t draw eyebrows in a moving train.
• When standing in the wind with a wig on, make sure you have somebody ready to run and get it.
• Make sure your sweater zips open all the way. Pulling a sweater over your head tends to make you lose your wig.
• “Put a sock in it” also comes in handy when you forget your prosthesis or can’t wear it due to radiation.
• Peeing in different colors can be exciting.
• Never walk through airport security with a new prosthesis. Even though you may not think there is any metal in there, as luck would have it, there will be.