BRCA+: Living With Genetic Mutation

March 06, 2017

Sometimes fighting cancer looks like this/pillow fight

I am a breast cancer and ovarian cancer
PREVIVOR living with the
diagnosis of BRCA2+ genetic mutation
and high cancer risk (87% with family history).

Even though this diagnosis received a ton of press,
and a wide discussion of inherited breast cancer
ensued thanks to Angelina Jolie, you may
still be confused about the complexity of it all.

I chose Prophylactic Surgeries to wipe out the
chance for developing ovarian and breast cancers,
which turned the lives of my mom, aunts, cousins,
and friends, upside down and has been fatal for
too many of my female relatives.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday, and she is
nearing the 5 year anniversary
of her breast cancer diagnosis.

Her birthday seemed like a great time to
celebrate her vibrant life while also raising
awareness about BRCA+ genetic mutations.

Writing about this experience has been healing.

Inherited breast cancer involves one of two genes:
BRCA1 or BRCA2, and all of us, both men
and women, possess these two genes.

The role of these genes is to repair cellular damage
and to keep breast cells growing normally.
In my case, the BRCA2 gene has an abnormality
or mutation, so it cannot do the job of
suppressing tumors as it is supposed to do.

Genetic mutations are complex, but I read an analogy
which shed some light:

We can think of the mutations as spelling mistakes
or typos. Since genes are instructional manuals for
a cell, the same spelling mistake or typo in the
instructions keeps appearing in every cell
containing that gene.

(As a writer...OY...can I just tell you how frustrating it is
to think there's this spelling error in my genetic code

which cannot yet be edited to give the proper
instructions to my sweet little cells that only
want to suppress tumor growth and repair
themselves?)

*end of writer's pity party*

Living with BRCA+ genetic mutation has its moments.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are harmful because
they increase the risk of several cancers including
ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and melanoma.

Who has this rare mutation (beyond me and Angelina)?

People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (who have a higher prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations than people in the general U.S. population) and Norwegian, Dutch, and Icelandic peoples also have a higher prevalence.

The difficult decisions I faced about surgeries
to prevent breast cancer and to reconstruct my breasts
were not made easily or alone.

With the help of excellent specialists, my husband,
my mom, and my sister (who also tested positive),
I chose a Prophylactic Surgery strategy because
it felt right for me.

Many women living with the cancer risks involved

with BRCA+ diagnosis choose
Enhanced Screening, Chemoprevention,
and nonsurgical preventative options.

I deeply honor my BRCA+ sisters and brothers who for
personal reasons do not choose the option I chose.

Michele of Hello Lovely Studio with HP Elitebook

I'm BRCA2+ and a PREVIVOR

No stranger to dramatic diagnoses, I have been
living with Crohn's Disease (in remission since 2012)

since I was 18 years old...but learning about
the BRCA mutation was completely different.

I wasn't yet sick yet I felt like a timebomb.
I faced critical decisions, fears,
and questions about my health and future.

I felt some fear, but I did not feel unlucky or doomed.
In fact, I felt grateful to be armed with
information about my genetics and indebted to

my mom who requested genetic testing for the
BRCA mutation
to possibly help her children avoid
the trauma, pain, and grief she endures.

Just before my mom's bilateral mastectomy and lymph node removal

Witnessing the suffering of my warrior mom as she
fights breast cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma
with surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation,
has changed me in profound ways.
Joining her in the fight has helped me
gain perspective, beyond simply
issues of physical health.

Her pain and cancers have been a

teacher for me and my family about what it
means to be here on earth for a short time,
growing in wisdom and love.

Michele of Hello Lovely Studio in pointe shoes ballet slippers

Living with BRCA+ Genetic Mutation

I wish I could say the journey has resulted in
linear personal growth and that as I deepen and grow,

life gets better and better...oh my, that
has most certainly not been the case.

Michele and sister before prophylactic surgery

Real life previving.

Instead, the journey with BRCA and Crohn's
is much more spiral-like, much more dizzying
and tricky to navigate than I ever imagined,
more ripe with meaning and
more rich in opportunities for
humility and
gratitude than I can say.

And I should really capitalize Humility
because. Oh boy. I had no idea how
much puffed up ego was in control

before my BRCA+ journey which
brought with it an extraordinary opportunity
t o l e t g o
of a whole lot of self-absorption and illusion.

I didn't fight like a girl I fought dirty and I cheated I'm a previvor

Enough said.

One of the preventive surgeries I chose after
the BRCA+ diagnosis was Full Hysterectomy
with Bilateral Salpingo Oophorectomy.

which resulted in surgical menopause, and
menopause has been especially
challenging for both me and my sister.

We share a BRCA2+ diagnosis and an appetite for shenanigans.

Both of us developed chronic migraine with auras,
which has been a debilitating health condition
affecting our daily lives.

About a year ago, I was experiencing 12-17 days
with severe migraine each month and feeling
increasingly hopeless about coping with
the illness.

Last summer, I sought treatment from a headache specialist,

who was determined to help me identify and eliminate
the possible triggers of these recurring headaches.

Michele of Hello Lovely Studio on a rocky beach

Living With BRCA+ Genetic Mutation (photo by Melissa James)

After eliminating aspartame, pain relievers,
and medicine which could be contributing factors,

it became clear that the main triggers
for my headaches are allergies, barometric pressure
changes, and dappled light.

My friends since childhood.

(By the way, it's unwise and insensitive to insinuate
to someone suffering from headaches that their
pain is likely psychosomatic...unless you
have graduate degrees in medicine,
psychology, and neurology, have lived
life in their skin, AND want to get smacked...
since I can tell you that hearing that
feels like being punched in the migraine.)

I tried multiple prescriptions to treat the headache
pain, but unfortunately have not yet found
one that helps so have pursued alternative
options like Botox (which for me has reduced
the number of migraine headaches
but may not have that side effect for everyone)
and Accupressure/Reflexology
(weekly treatments for a time, and now I administer
treatments to myself and family members).

I realized just the other day that there are
multiple Allergan products which have
comforted me along the journey.
Products which have helped me to heal,
feel more like myself, and even
experience fewer headaches per month.

During a particularly difficult season with the

Crohn's Disease, at a time I was not sure I would
survive the illness, a medicine made by Allergan
(Asacol) helped to calm the inflammatory condition
of my diseased bowel as it healed and returned to health.

It is still upsetting for me to return in memory
to those 18 months of dark days where
I could not eat or drink anything
without rushing to the bathroom.

Grace, medicine, love, and a hard fight
for my health (which meant eating small quantities

of food around the clock, though it was the last
thing I felt like doing) eventually led to brighter days
of calm and remission.

Image result for image yogurt

In 2013, when I opted for a double mastectomy
and reconstruction of my breasts with implants,

I chose implants made by...yep...Allergan to feel more
comfortable and at home with the physical changes.

But the evolution doesn't end there for some of us!

I am also deeply grateful for AlloDerm tissue required
in my reconstruction surgery offered by the company Acelity.

Since there wasn't an area of my body to borrow skin required
for my surgery, it was necessary to secure another source.

Alloderm is created from donated human skin,
and after removing all of the cells
from the skin, its biochemical and structural
components are retained.

Since AlloDerm is an acellular tissue product,

there was no chance my body would reject it.

BRCA+ Girls.

While I am expressing all this gratitude,

I must also send a huge shoutout to you incredible humans

who are organ donors and willingly donate your skin

after life has left your body.

ORGAN DONORS,

YOU ARE SO VERY PRECIOUS.

If I think too long about the donated skin I required

for reconstruction...skin which covers my chest
and lives near my heart,

thankful tears will flood this keyboard.

Breast implant

So, you see, me and Allergan keep running into each other

through my adulthood (Asacol, Natrelle implants, Botox),

and the company seems destined to keep me company

on this journey with BRCA2+ genetic mutation.

Thank you so much for creating agents of
healing and comfort for me, Allergan.

Thank you, wonderful surgeons and doctors
who performed multiple surgeries for me and the
women in my family.

Thank you kindly, AlloDerm, Acelity and skin donors.

Living with BRCA+ Genetic Mutation

Thanks, geneticists.

Thanks, mom...you make us so proud.

Thanks, friends, for reading with love--

you're important sources of light and

encouragement on this journey.

If you found this post as a result of an
internet search for BRCA genetic mutation
after receiving the diagnosis,
I hope you find a little hope here.
Be tender and gentle with your lovely self.
You're in good company, friend.
And never alone.
If you care to connect,
feel free...you've got this.

Here's a new quick little outtake video

with peeks around my house, and

all the smiles inside of it are just for you:

For more information and support for BRCA, visit
Facing Our Risk Empowered (FORCE).

Peace to you right where you are.

20 comments

JoJoMarch 6, 2017 at 11:31 PM
thank you for this post. I don't think there is enough information available on brca!
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Leslie SinclairMarch 7, 2017 at 6:03 AM
Heart warming and heart felt, what great information and inspiration to look for the silver lining in all of our challenges and stay positive. Thanks Michele
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ChristineMarch 7, 2017 at 6:33 AM
Thank you for sharing this story of your journey, humbling and inspiring...I am so grateful that I found your blog this year. You fill me with beautiful images and words every single time. You are, simply lovely....
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BeachCountryMarch 7, 2017 at 8:06 AM
Bravo, brave soul! Thank you for sharing this critical information so openly and positively.
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beyondbeigeMarch 7, 2017 at 11:28 AM
I used to suffer from migraines as you have described. You might try a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathy is very safe and surprisingly works quickly once you get the right remedy. Peace to you and blessings.
Cyclamen – Best Homeopathic medicine for migraine that starts with visual aura or disturbances

Homeopathic medicine Cyclamen is majorly indicated for migraine attacks that begin with flickering, fiery sparks before the eyes or dim vision. These visual symptoms that precede the migraine headache are referred to as aura. Cyclamen is also useful where migraine headache starts on rising in the morning. Shooting pain is experienced in the temporal region. Vertigo, especially when standing, may accompany the headache.
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Mary Ann PickettMarch 7, 2017 at 12:48 PM
What a beautiful post. I had breast cancer when I was only 39...still good 20 years later. Hoping the same for your mom!
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Holly Irwin Fine ArtMarch 7, 2017 at 1:10 PM
My dear friend, What a courageous warrior you are! I don't even know what to say except that in the midst of absolutely miserable diagnoses, you are a light and a joy and source of inspiration to all of us readers! Thank you for sharing your journey with us❤
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Carrie KrainockMarch 7, 2017 at 11:21 PM
From one BRCA sister to another...thank you. Thank you for sharing your heart and story. It's so hard to find words to explain everything to others. This is beautifully written. I just had my Full Hysterectomy with Bilateral Sapling Oophorectomy 3 weeks ago. I have my second set of consults with surgeons for the PDM in April-May. It's nice to not feel alone. Thank you! Hugs!
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Burlap LuxeMarch 8, 2017 at 10:43 PM
Your one brave girl, thank you dear for the education xx
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The French HutchMarch 9, 2017 at 7:32 AM
You are beautiful from the inside out! Thank you for sharing your path and where life leads. Blessings............
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