From Patient to Peer Supporter
In 2019, I was happily married, mother of two sons. I received good medical care and was in excellent shape. On a family trip to Greece, my belly was noticeably distended. I thought it might be traveler’s stomach or perimenopause. I still felt bloated when we arrived home and went to my PCP. The doctor on call scheduled CT scans for the next day, which showed peritoneal carcinomatosis, ovarian cancer that had originated in the fallopian tubes.
I had no time to think. From my initial appointment to debulking surgery was a seven-day whirlwind. Genetic testing confirmed that I carry the BRCA1 mutation. My mother and siblings tested for the mutation soon after my genetics were profiled. Since my mother did not carry the mutation, it came through my father, who died at 38 from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Although my paternal grandmother and other women on that side of my family died from breast cancer or stomach cancer (that likely was ovarian cancer), I had been under the false impression that the odds of inheriting a BRCA mutation from one’s father are lower.
Since my diagnosis, I have been a strong proponent of genetic testing for anyone who has a history of cancer in their family. Timely testing can and will save lives. My health has been good since my treatment, which included chemotherapy and two years of PARP-inhibitor maintenance – a game changer for BRCA mutation cancer patients. I credit my strength and recovery to an amazing team of doctors and nurses, and loving and extremely supportive family and friends who were always there for me.
Not a day goes by that I do not think about my cancer. It may come back somewhere else in my body. I am enrolled in a screening program for those with a high-risk for breast cancer and am still weighing the options of having a prophylactic mastectomy. Even in remission, there is a high probability of ovarian cancer recurrence. For me, every healthy day is precious.
Sharsheret is a wonderful resource. Throughout my journey, Sharsheret’s staff provided me with support and counseling, including recommendations about family genetic testing decisions. I have also tuned in for Sharsheret’s many excellent and informational online programs. My synagogue has participated in Sharsheret-sponsored Teal and Pink Shabbat, sharing information and raising awareness about hereditary cancers. And serving as a peer supporter has been one way for me to help others and give back to an organization that provided so much to me over the last five years.