Welcome - I am a Breast Cancer Gene Carrier

So, this is my first attempt at blogging...forgive the random thoughts, the pause and reflections, and likely some rambling. My goal is to give you an insight to what it is like to learn and to live with the fact that you are a breast cancer gene carrier.

I will go into the 'why' I decided to get tested in another post - that in itself is a journey. For now, I'll just fill you in on the facts - at least as much as I know as of today. My secondary goal is to educate myself and others what you need to know as a carrier and what you should know when you know someone who is a carrier.

I was given my diagnosis on Tuesday, December 23, 2008...yes, Christmas Eve. I was tested two weeks before and had to make an appointment with my gynecologist to get the results. I figured, I already had the day off from work so it will be convenient. The moment my doctor opened my manila file on the small examination room desk, put his hand to his head, looked down and stated "You're positive", I was grounded. I had to smile at his gesture to pull the box of tissues over to me as he expected me to break down in tears.

Smile...yes, that is what I did. I looked at him in the eyes and I said matter of factly "Ok, what's next?".

In the past year, I've learned that the chances of me learning that I am a BRCA2 gene mutation carrier is quite phenomenal. I feel fortunate that I know and that I now have the power to do something about it. Welcome to my journey...please ask questions, please feel free to challenge, and please learn what it's like to be in my position making the decisions that I'm going and need to make.