I inherited my Mum’s shitty genes. She was ever such a generous woman, living by the motto “sharing is caring”. Not only did I inherit them, she went ahead and died before I found out. 

I can hear her saying; “I wouldn’t have given you anything you couldn’t handle Christen”. Luckily, I sure as hell inherited her resilience as well. In some ways I don’t think she would feel guilty about her gift to me, I think she would have a glint in her eye, as if to say “You’ve got this daughter!”

What exactly did her gift to me entail? A BRCA gene mutation. A predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. A mastectomy, the loss of my opportunity to breast feed, potential IVF for my future children, an oophorectomy and pre-induced menopause. In summary, lots of very difficult decisions and operations (and a massive head fuck).

It sounds pretty shitty for a big titted gal in her 20’s. Well, I’ve definitely inherited better things, like her sequin jacket, but honestly, she gave me the opportunity to live when she had to die. I lie, she didn’t have to die. Which is why I am blogging about hereditary cancer.

BRCA gene mutations were discovered in the early 1990’s. We finally had scientific evidence that proves cancer runs in families. We could also start predicting the likelihood of individuals developing certain types of cancers. With up to 85% chance of breast cancer for a BRCA2 carrier, the stats are pretty darn high (hence the reason I no longer have nipples).

Whilst for some, a BRCA diagnosis can feel like a death sentence, it shouldn’t do. It’s actually what we’ve been asking for for years. How many people get diagnosed with cancer and say “If only I could have prevented this”. How many people, like my mother, lie riddled with cancer thinking “I would have preferred an option of pre-induced menopause to this!” Oh, if only we had a crystal ball to see the future. A BRCA diagnosis is like the cloudy lemonade of crystal balls. You can’t quite predict the future, but you can see some misty cancerous shadows lurking there.

More people need to know about hereditary cancer. I have met many young women with terminal cancer who say “Well, my Mum, 5 aunts and 3 cousins also had/have breast cancer”. I hear “Cancer is in my Dad’s side, but this is breast and ovarian cancer right?” Wrong. Men can pass on BRCA gene mutations and are also predisposed to certain cancers. Father’s want to protect their families as much as mothers.

So, let’s get chatting.

The day my Mum died, I went back to her house, and stepped out into the garden. It was a warm, sunny, English day (rare). The wind blew over me. I felt her. Her courage, strength and passion. Her need to be kind and generous. I knew I had a mission ahead of me. I didn’t know what it was, but it was calling me and it filled my heart with hope and excitement.

So, here I am. Doing this for her, because she can’t. What the… Jeff Buckley, Hallelujah just came on Spotify – I think that’s enough now.

Welcome to my blogging, vlogging, chatting site. I will make you smile and cry through this shit show. Promise. Laters x