It’s still October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and these women and their stories are so inspiring that I wanted to share some more as a continuation from last weeks blog. It’s such an important message for both women and men and I hope that this project has helped to ‘Make One Person Aware!’.

Read more inspiring stories from these awesome women below…

Helen Smith

‘My name is Helen smith from Leigh on Sea, Essex. I am 52 years old and married with four children and two grandchildren.

I’m one of six children. three boys and three girls and of my siblings three of us have the BRCA1 faulty gene which we inherited from our mother who developed breast cancer in her 40’s. In total 4 family members of my mothers immediate family have had breast cancer in their 40’s, two had the gen fault and two didn’t. The BRCA1 gene was first found on my cousin’s side in Holland when she developed breast cancer. In 2007 my sister had breast cancer and at this point, I was tested for the BRCA1 gene along with my mum and my brothers and sisters. When I discovered that I was carrying the faulty gene I didn’t hesitate to go ahead with a preventative double mastectomy as I had an 85% chance of Breast cancer. It was an absolute no brainer for me and my husband agreed.

I met Wendy Watson at a breast reconstruction evening in Chelmsford and she helped me to find my surgeon Mr Andrew Baildam who had done Wendy’s daughter; Becky’s surgery previously. My surgery was done in 2009 and I chose to have reconstruction with implants. I had two surgeries to get to my desired cup size with the following surgery for fat transference and nipple reconstruction with tattooing afterwards. I am more than happy with my reconstruction and wanted to do this photoshoot to raise awareness and show everyone that you don’t need to be afraid of the surgery, you can look and feel great afterwards!

Six years later I underwent a hysterectomy as the gen had given me an increased risk of ovarian cancer as well, this was estimated at 65% chance which I felt was too great a risk to ignore. This was a harder operation for me and took longer to recover from emotionally. I felt I ‘lost part of myself’ for a while but Wendy was so supportive and encouraging to me through that time. I can’t thank her enough. Both Wendy and Becky are exceptional women.

I think the hardest part for me was finding out that I had passed the faulty gene on to my daughter, she also tested positive and is currently contemplating her own surgery. I have found it heartbreaking to think I have passed the gene to her, it was much harder than going through the ordeal myself but I’m so grateful that we have found out in time and can make informed choices about our future.

Today I’m an active member of the helpline, I have done a skydive to raise funds for the helpline as well as helping organise a charity ball in Essex. I actively support and attend NHBCH getaway weekends where we talk about our experiences with hereditary breast cancer and share our surgery details with women preparing for their own.

My message to anyone who has been newly diagnosed is ‘Don’t be afraid, knowledge is power and life is just as good after surgery.’

Lucinda Parish

‘My name is Lucinda Parish and I’m married with two lovely children and a full-time job in marketing. I’m a keen runner and I ran the London Marathon for the first time in 2015 raising over £7000 in funds for the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline.

Four months after running the marathon I began an 18-month journey of four cancer-preventing operations as I have the BRCA1 gene mutation. This involved 16 hours of surgery and four months off work while I had a double mastectomy with a DIEP flap reconstruction. Six months later I had my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.

We found out that our family had the BRCA gene when my Mum developed breast cancer in 2007. The gen had come down through my Grandfather’s side where there was a long history of breast cancer and when the doctors tested my Mum they found the gene. I subsequently tested positive in 2013 and on googling the condition I found the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline. I rang and spoke to Wendy and then got to know her and Becky through Facebook, they both supported me enormously throughout my operations and I couldn’t have got through that time without them.

Pst operations, my running has helped me to recover, emotionally and physically from my BRCA journey, It’s helped me to feel in control of my body and to realise that our bodies are amazing, powerful things capable of healing themselves to the extent that we can even run marathons if we want to. Four months after my last operation I was back in marathon shape and undertook a ‘Four Races in Tend days’ challenge, starting with the London Marathon, then seven days later followed by a %k, Half Marathon and a 10k run in three consecutive days raising more funds and awareness for the National Herediaty Breast cancer Helpline. This wasn’t an easy journey but one that I’m proud of and I want to tell anyone facing their own surgery that you absolutely will come out the other side and be who you were before.

Personally I felt such a sense of immediate relief when I woke up from the surgery, and two years on I feel so much stronger than I was before. The idea of not being around for my children was not an option, I’m not saying it was easy but it was worth it.

I am now a Board Trustee for the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline and my future plans include supporting and counselling newly diagnosed women and continuing to raise awareness about the gene mutation so that more women will get tested and find out about this preventable cancer. Our campaign message for this project is ‘Make One Person Aware’ and that’s exactly what we intend to keep doing!’

Natasha Hibbert

‘My name is Natasha Hibbert and I’m 29 and married with two children and a dog named Poppy. My mum developed breast cancer when she was 46 years old but we didn’t know there was a hereditary gene at fault until my cousin sadly passed away last year from Breast cancer. She was only 28 years old and this was an extremely difficult time for us all.

As my cousin had started the journey with the genetic counselling team to find out if there was a hereditary gene being passed along. I was subsequently tested and found out that I was also BRCA1 positive.

Before she had passed away my cousin introduced me to the NHBCH (the helpline) and I was greatly encouraged by the chance to talk to women who had also been diagnosed BRCA positive and faced the decision to opt for preventative risk-reducing surgery. After a year of careful consideration, I decided that the best way forward for me was to have a prophylactic mastectomy with implants.

At the time of writing, I have been through the counselling process with the genetic counselling team at Nottingham City hospital and seen a surgeon who has agreed to my surgery which we expect to take place in January.

My message to any woman battling with the decision to be tested is that “This is your chance to choose. If you know the diagnosis then you can choose your path”. For me, it was a clear decision, an 85% chance of developing breast cancer is too high.’

Jay Walker

‘My name is Jay Walker and it’s thought that I carry a currently unidentified hereditary gene that causes breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer.

My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37; we were immediately on edge as two of my paternal great Aunts had previously died of Breast cancer at a young age. We started to wonder if there was a genetic link and whether it could be hereditary.

I saw Wendy many years ago on a television talk show about the BRCA gene mutation and when my mum was diagnosed the second time I approached my GP. Tests revealed that my Mum’s cancer was hormone positive which ruled out a known mutated BRCA gene as this is usually hormone negative. However, although our gene had not been isolated, genetic counselling told me that they were aware of unidentified faulty genes like BRCA that they are working to identify and isolate.

Our family history couldn’t just be a coincidence as Mum had developed two primary cancers, Ten years apart, bilaterally -one in each breast- and at a young age all of which is extremely rare. I was determined that I wanted preventative surgery, I couldn’t face the fear and anxiety of always waiting for the cancer diagnosis, it felt like a sword hanging over my head. It took four years from the first appointment to my surgery but after genetic counselling that it would be sensible to operate, The date was set for a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction at The Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester. I was 36 at the time and the operation was such a relief for me.

I was introduced to Becky and Wendy through mutual friends who heard I was awaiting surgery, and immediately got involved in the helpline. To share experiences with others both before and after surgery was so helpful. Becky was especially encouraging; I remember her telling me that her new boobs felt like an upgrade and whilst it is not a cosmetic operation, the advances in modern surgery mean it’s nothing to be afraid of. Today I feel stronger and healthier than ever and look forward to finding out eventually the name of my faulty gene so that others can be tested for it too.

I’m currently involved in raising funds for the helpline, I did a skydive last year for the charity and plan to do as much campaigning as possible to raise awareness of hereditary breast cancer, the preventative options available and to show that having a mastectomy isn’t scary. We must get this message out there!’

Thank you once again to the incredible team from Anita Lingerie. A special mention has to go to Jemma Barnes, for having the confidence in me to create these images and show these women as the strong and inspiring women they are! Thank you!

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