A cancer diagnosis is lifechanging regardless of when it happens, but when you’re 22 weeks pregnant with your second child, it’s especially devastating. I was just 20 years old when I knew there was a risk of this occurring in my future. At that time, my sister tested positive for a BRCA mutation, so there was a 50/50 chance of me being a carrier too.
I also knew that screening would begin when I turned 25, so I waited as long as possible to get myself tested. I figured there was no reason spending years stressing about something I couldn’t really do anything about yet. At the age of 24, I finally went for the test.
Lo and behold, I tested positive for the BRCA mutation. I had subconsciously prepared myself for a positive result, so I was pretty numb when I found out. Call me pessimistic, but I went into the genetic testing assuming I was already BRCA positive.
As soon as I found out, I reached out to Memorial Sloan Kettering and was enrolled in the RISE program. From ages 25 to 29, the plan was an annual breast MRI and physical exam. Then after I turned 30, an annual mammogram was added, so I would have breast imaging every six months, alternating between MRIs and mammograms, along with an annual physical.
For the last few years, I attended all my screenings, and thankfully, nothing was discovered. Yet in 2026, my life was forever changed. It started off great, because in February I found out I am expecting my second child.
My husband and I were absolutely thrilled at the prospect of welcoming another baby into our family. Not to mention, I am one of those women who loves being pregnant. Luckily, I never had morning sickness, and pregnancy has been pretty blissful for the most part.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
