Tonie Harrison

Pre-vivor

BRCA gene

In 2021 I found out I had the Braca 2 gene. So in April 2022 I had a double mastectomy. I thought mentally I could handle it, but I was wrong. It started making me not want to look at myself. I felt uncomfortable looking or touching my chest area. I felt ugly and very self conscious. I have gone through therapy. It’s helping but it’s a slow process. But the positive side is I caught the cancer before it started. I watched my mom die from breast cancer. That was the hardest thing in the world. She suffered so much going through chemo and radiation. I didn’t want to put my kids through what I went through watching my mother dying from this horrible disease. And in November I had reconstruction surgery. In 2 years my family has found out that not only do I have the gene but my daughter and my sister and her 2 daughters all have the gene. This disease has effected my family. But I want to say the real warriors are the women going through radiation and chemo and surgery. These women have my utmost respect. It is a hard journey that you go through mentally and physically. But you keep that brave face on for your family and every day life. So please go for your mammogram yearly. Keep up the fight and stay strong.