Thank you for coming and reading my story about how Ovarian Cancer has affected me and my family.
I have always known that I have a family history of Ovarian Cancer as my dad's mom died from it at a young age and my dad was 7 years old when she passed away. When my dad's sister found out she had Ovarian Cancer she had some genetic testing done and found out she has the BRCA 1 gene mutation this was 10 years ago now. Shortly after finding out the results my dad got tested and found out he was positive as well. Which then lead to my little sister and I getting tested, hers came back negative thankfully. When mine came back positive as well I was 25 at the time and boy how has my life changed in these past 10 years. Soon after diagnosis I went to the Women's Breast Health Center here in Ottawa where I was given the email for a local support group for other people like me who have the BRCA gene. They also asked me if I wanted my ovaries out then due to my strong family history of Ovarian cancer I said no of course. I was also told that until I turned 30 I would get yearly breast MRIs for screening and once I was 30, I would go into the notation breast screening program where I would be closely monitored and would have MRI's and Mammograms every 6 months.
2 years after being diagnosed after going to yearly Breast MRI's I decided I had enough and never wanted to have one again and decided that I wanted to remove my healthy breasts and have a Double Mastectomy. So, at the age of 27 and after going to the support group for 2 years I meet with a Plastic Surgeon who helped me to choose what would be the right way to go about it would be. I ended going the route of expanders then to final implants.
In the fall of 2019 after many Emergency Room and Hospital visits and discussions with friends from my group as well as friends who work in health care, I found out I had endometriosis which had been causing all the pain that I had been having in my abdomen and shortness of breath. Soon after finding out, I meet with a surgeon and started seeing a Menopause Doctor. The menopause Dr. recommended that remove my Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes as well as have a total hysterectomy to help reduce my risk of Ovarian Cancer and try to get rid of the Endomitosis. In January 2020 at the age of 30 I had the surgery. I am now in surgical menopause but am happy to have reduced my risks for Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer.
These past 10 years I have changed so much without even realizing I know what I can handle. I am now stronger and a kick ass person. It took me a long time to get here but I am now doing more to help my community in the past 2 years I have made a friend who works at Ovarian Cancer Canada and told her my story for her research study. She has then helped me to spread my wings by helping me get more involved with Ovarian Cancer Canada and letting me speak at The Society of Gynecological Oncology of Canada fall form where I got to share my story with Gynecological Oncology Doctors across Canada. I am also on the steering committee to help bring about a new program and research network here in Ontario.
These are some of the many reasons I'm joining the thousands of other participants at the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope. Precious lives depend on it, and the community deserves it.
Every dollar I raise supports Ovarian Cancer Canada; the only national charity dedicated to overcoming this disease.
Thank you for your support and reading my story. It means the world to me, and everyone affected by this disease.