I was given my Strength key by my ex work colleagues unfortunately we were all made redundant last August after working together for a long time some of them all their working life! I found out in December 2013 that I had the BRAC2 gene.
My grandmother mother aunt and then my brother John all died of cancer all BRAC2 related. I decided to get tested after losing my brother within six weeks of diagnoses of Pancreatic cancer. I had also been through a terrible time and lost my marriage 6 months before his death so life has been pretty tough for me over the past 4 years. Since finding out I had the BRAC2 gene I decided to have preventative surgeries which entails ovary removal first then in December 2014 a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery at the same time. I made the drastic decision to have this done due to the untimely death of my dear brother John who left this earth on May 16th 2014 at the young age of 46. I wanted to be around to see my two daughers Amy and Rebecca grow up and become adults as unfortunately my mother died when I was 11 and I have always struggled with losing her and found it really hard growing up without my mum so did not want this to happen to my girls as they are so precious to me.
I have now decided to pass on the key as I feel that I am over the worst now and recovered from surgery mentally I think I still have a long way to go coming to terms with what has happened in the past 4 years but physically I am a lot better. I now know of a lady currently fighting breast cancer whom the key is to be passed onto. I have never met her she is a friend of a friend but I want her to have it to give her strength and also for her to know that in the end all of us women are sisters and should look out for each other I really really hope that this lady gets over this as I can tell that she is very much loved and has a daughter herself and I so want her to get better as Im sure she does too. All my love Julia xxxxx
