Knowing your family’s medical history can be a vital tool in understanding and managing your health, particularly when it comes to breast cancer. A strong family history of the disease can increase your risk, making it essential to know your blood relative’s experiences. For Lori, knowing her family history made her extremely vigilant about her breast health, which allowed for an early breast cancer diagnosis.
As caregiver turned patient, Lori’s family history is deeply entwined with breast cancer, with 13 females having been diagnosed before she was. This history began with her great-grandmother, Grace. When Grace was diagnosed, she chose not to undergo a mastectomy and Lori and her mother were Grace’s caregivers. This deeply affected Lori’s childhood memories. “My mom was the nurse in our family, so I always went with her to help change the bandages,” Lori recalled. Despite the difficult memories of watching her grandmother face breast cancer without treatment, these experiences have shaped Lori’s understanding and approach to her own health by being more proactive and knowing her own “normal”.
The pattern of breast cancer continued with Lori’s grandmother, Norma. Unlike Grace, Norma did have access to genetic testing and got tested for a BRCA gene mutation, which turned out to be negative. Even though her genetic testing was negative, Norma’s breast cancer diagnosis may have been linked to her exposure to toxic chemicals at a plant where she worked. “She had been retired for so long when she got diagnosed,” Lori explained.
Norma underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. Lori recalls cutting her grandmother’s hair when it began to fall out due to the treatment. This supportive gesture was one of many that Lori offered her family members as they navigated their individual experiences with treatment. After her treatment, Norma did not have a recurrence. “It never came back. Thank God,” Lori said.
The story doesn’t end there though. Lori’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after retiring from the Veterans Administration in 2010. The diagnosis came just two weeks after her retirement, in January 2011. Lori’s mother, like her grandmother, tested negative for a BRCA gene mutation but still faced the challenges of the disease. Lori described how her mother underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, and she was by her side through every step of the treatment process. “I didn’t miss one radiation, one chemo, one doctor’s appointment,” Lori recalled.
Lori was her mother’s sole caregiver through the entire experience. She moved back into her childhood home, becoming her mother’s full-time caregiver, even while managing her responsibilities as a single parent and student. “I moved in and lived on a two-seater loveseat for 365 days,” Lori shared.
Lori herself was recently diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer, a diagnosis she received after noticing symptoms and seeking a diagnostic mammogram. “I was on Instagram and saw a Centers for Disease Control post about early warning signs of breast cancer, including nipple discharge. I had just experienced that, so I went and got checked,” Lori explained. The Instagram post, combined with her extensive family history, caused Lori to take her health into her own hands and seek answers.
Gaining a comprehensive view of the different factors — genetic, environmental and personal decisions — shows how unique breast cancer diagnoses can be, even amongst family members. Lori’s story speaks to various risk factors and treatment options, showing that there is no one-size-fits-all course of action when it comes to a breast cancer diagnosis.
Breast cancer has been a longstanding part of Lori’s story and still is, as she navigates her own treatment. A longtime caregiver turned patient, her experiences have profoundly shaped her perspective on breast cancer and steered the way she is choosing to navigate her diagnosis and treatment.
Use Komen’s Family Health History tool here.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their healthcare provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
