My next VIP Mutant, Jess Fine talks about her BRCA journey after her mum’s breast cancer diagnosis. Jess’ Mum was not eligible for BRCA testing on the NHS and had to go down the private testing route.
I was exposed to the ‘world of cancer’ and cancer genetics at the young age of 15, when my mum was diagnosed with an early-onset, triple negative breast cancer…which we later found out was caused from a BRCA 1 mutation. She was an incredibly positive and strong woman who always embraced her mantra: ‘knowledge is power’, which has pushed me to be very proactive with my health, in fact so proactive that I was genetically tested just 3 days after the minimum legal age! A few weeks later the results came back to reveal I was also a BRCA 1 carrier, and as strange as it may sound, I felt almost a sense of relief that I could now be in control of my health through regular screening and surgery; and therefore I will hopefully will never having to face a cancer diagnosis like my mum’s.
Fast forwarding to now, I am just turning 22 and I have recently met with a breast surgeon to begin my ‘journey’ to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction, hopefully within the next few years. I am asked often why I am so happy to be saying ‘goodbye’ to my boobs at a young age… knowing that I have had BRCA 1 for a while now has allowed me to accept and understand how important preventive surgery is. Besides, I can focus on the more positive note that I will be able to choose my ideal cup size, shape and maybe even be happier with my boobs than I am now!
In the last 6 months, I have discovered a lot more about inherited cancer genes like BRCA since beginning to work for a genetic diagnostic company called Myogenes. I am enrolled as a Health Research Manager, where I am both researching and helping to raise awareness of the importance of genetic testing especially for those with a history of cancer in the family. I was shocked to find out many people are not able to access free BRCA testing…just like my mum, who did not meet the NHS criteria to be tested and had to pay an extortionate price of £1600 through a private company. This is why I am extremely passionate about my work and I hope I am making my mum proud in raising this awareness and helping to provide a wider scope of options for people through offering comprehensive predictive cancer testing (for more information click here).
In memory of my incredible mum and with the knowledge that I know now, I want to set up a foundation in her name; the ‘Jo Fine BRCA Campaign,’ to further spread this knowledge of BRCA genes and inform people of the preventive solutions. Ultimately, it is my goal to set up a trust fund within the campaign where financial donations will be raised for people to be genetically tested who otherwise cannot afford to do so.
Although I have the BRCA gene, I am incredibly lucky to have inherited many other things from my mum, like her toothy wide smile, her outrageously loud cackling laugh, her ‘love for life’ and most importantly her determination to help and educate others. Knowing she had the BRCA gene before her cancer manifested would have saved her life and I hope sharing our story will encourage others to be genetically tested and prevent them going through what she went through.
Thank you SO much Jess for sharing your story with us, and raising awareness about private testing. We cannot wait to see the ‘Jo Fine BRCA Campaign’ develop.
