Knowledge is Power: My BRCA Testing Journey
- maryrburrell
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
Breaking the Cycle: My Journey with Genetic Testing and Cancer Risk
Cancer isn’t just part of my family’s history—it’s shaped our reality. I’ve watched it take aunts, and cousins, and most recently, a sibling has been diagnosed and is currently in treatment. Each loss left more than grief; it left questions. Is this just our fate?
Back then, no one talked about genetics, hereditary risk, or preventative screenings. We didn’t know to ask why cancer kept showing up. We simply braced ourselves and hoped. But today, hope isn’t my only option. Science has given us answers my family never had before. And now, I have a choice: to be proactive, to understand my risk, and to take control of my health.
I’ve already fought my way back to life once. In 2021, I received a tricuspid valve replacement after spending two years in hospice, believing my time was running out. I survived. And with that survival comes a responsibility to do everything I can to protect this second chance. I didn’t fight my way back just to sit and wait for what might happen—I’m here to take control, make informed choices, and do right by myself and my family.
Taking Action: Why I Chose Genetic Testing
Recently, my doctors referred me for cancer risk assessment and genetic testing due to my strong family history. I know a pathogenic BRCA mutation runs in my family, though I don’t have access to the specific report that names the variant. But I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me this matters.
I am currently waiting on my test results and am mentally ready to hear whatever they may be. I know that no matter the outcome, I’ll face it head-on—with knowledge, with options, and with a plan.
My daughter has been scheduled for BRCA testing for months. Given the long wait times for results, we decided I should get tested too. If I test negative, my children won’t need to worry. But if I test positive, it gives them a chance to prepare, make informed choices, and take control of their futures.
The Power of Knowledge
For years, cancer has felt like a silent predator in my family’s story. We were always reactive, never proactive. But genetic testing changes that. It gives us options—options my family never had before.
🔹 Early screenings that could catch cancer before it becomes life-threatening.
🔹 Preventative measures that could reduce my risk entirely.
🔹 A plan of action for my children and grandchildren.
I know that knowledge is powerful, but it can also be heavy. What if I test positive? What if my results change the way I see my future? But I’d rather walk forward with my eyes open than live in uncertainty.
Cancer may be part of my past, but I refuse to let it dictate my future. I can’t change what’s already happened. I can’t bring back the people I’ve lost. But I can take control of what happens next for me. That’s why I’m choosing to move forward—not with fear, but with facts, science, and proactive choices.
If you have a family history of cancer and wonder if genetic testing is worth it—yes, it is.
Because knowledge isn’t just power—it’s hope.❤️🩹🥑
#HospiceSurvivior #GeneticTesting #KnowledgeIsPower #FamilyHealth #TricuspidValveMiracle #BRCA #ScreeningsSaveLives #HereditaryCancer
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