Rachel Hommersen

By on December 22, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | 4 Comments
Rachel Hommersen

My name is Rachel Hommersen, and I am a Canadian previvor.  A previvor does not in my case, mean you have a genetic mutation that might be harmful (or at least one that has been identified).  My family went through genetic testing and we received results last month, however, our results were somewhat ambiguous.  A BRCA2 mutation was found, but research has suggested on various fronts that our mutation could either be harmful or not.  It is called a ‘genetic mutation of unknown significance’ but more and more research is showing it to be a benign mutation and insignificant.  I need to listen to my family history as a guide and 5 cases of breast cancer speak loudly. Read more …

Brittany Hodge

By on December 11, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | 2 Comments
Brittany Hodge

My name is Brittany, and I’m a 23-year-old previvor from Knoxville, Tennessee. I would like to share my story, but I feel like it’s necessary to begin with sharing my mom’s. In 2007, at the age of 44, my mom was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer known as “triple negative” breast cancer. This was the last thing that she or I expected to hear, because no one in our family had ever been diagnosed with breast cancer. Read more …

Jennifer Panaro

By on November 20, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | 4 Comments
Jennifer Panaro

This is my story…About ten years ago I was watching one of the morning news shows and there was a mother and daughter being interviewed because they carried the breast cancer gene.  The daughter was in her early twenties and she had undergone a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy.  I watched in horror because I couldn’t believe that anyone would ever remove their healthy breasts even though they didn’t have cancer. Read more …

Megan Thomas

By on October 22, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | No Comments
Megan Thomas

My name is Megan, I am 24 years old, and am a BRCA1 carrier.  When I was 12 my Nanny past away from Ovarian Cancer, through those 12 yrs I had watched her fight breast cancer on and off. There were a few times where she was put into the intensive care unit, and was told she would not make it. Two out of the three times they were wrong. Read more …

Sue Swenson

By on October 22, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | 2 Comments
Sue Swenson

I am of Ashkenazi Jewish decent (my grandmother was born in Germany and was Jewish). My sister, 13 months my elder, died of breast cancer in 2002. She was diagnosed at approx 32 yrs of age.  I am now 53, and have been an engineer- project manager at IBM for 31+ yrs. Read more …

Thao Tiedt

By on October 22, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | No Comments
Thao Tiedt

My mother’s sister died of breast cancer in her early 30’s. My sister died of breast cancer in her early 40’s. My mother had breast cancer in both her late 40’s and late 60’s but didn’t die of it. Many of my female counsins on my mother’s side have had breast cancer. Read more …

Elizabeth Bryndza

By on October 12, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | 6 Comments
Elizabeth Bryndza

My PREVIVE story is a unique one, and my journey is much different than Claudia’s. I am not BRAC1 or BRAC2 positive, and I have no family history of breast or ovarian cancer. But, during my sophomore year of college, at the age of 19, my life changed completely. Read more …

Mary Selden

By on October 9, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | 3 Comments
Mary Selden

My mom died at age 40 from breast cancer. She suffered with it and complications from it for 6-7 years. That was 19 years ago. So for the past 19 years I have had this in the back of my mind, “when is it my turn to get cancer?” Read more …

Susan Beausang

By on October 7, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | No Comments
Susan Beausang

I am really excited to have found your website/blog. I too am a previvor. I come from three generations of breast cancer survivors, but I was determined to be my own advocate and create a separate survival story for myself. I would love to share my story with Previvors and those facing the same decision we have faced. Here’s a short version of my story:and join the Previvor Movement. Read more …

Judy Gomberg

By on October 7, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | 3 Comments
Judy Gomberg

Hi Claudia – This is Judy Gomberg–Jodi’s NY friend who just completed-the last phase of the “Best “–possible surgery (and I need my eyes done) –I could ever imagine having. Although our stories are quite different–we clearly stood on the same line when they were passing out genes. Read more …

Recent Comments

Categories