Fundraising for cancer preventative procedures

Beaux Harris is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

In April 2022, my heart shattered when I was diagnosed with the BRCA1+ genetic mutation. Simply put, this means that over my lifetime, I have a 90% risk of developing breast cancer and a 60% risk of developing ovarian cancer.

I haven't been able to be seen by an NHS surgeon, and genetic specialists have strongly advised me to undergo three major (cancer preventative) procedures—full two-stage mastectomy and a hysterectomy—soon. This urgency is due to my age, the recommended recovery time between surgeries, and my aggressive family history of cancer.

I have decide therefore to reach out for your help in raising money for these life-prolonging surgeries.

This financial support will also enable me to freeze my eggs, a service currently not provided by the NHS to BRCA1+ mutation carriers, and to undergo all the cancer preventative procedures privately.

The BRCA1+ genetic mutation has been present and destructive in my family for generations, stealing the lives of many of my closest female family members and friends, including my own mother, who I lost when I was just 15. With your support, I hope to break free from this chilling generational pattern by extending my life, hopefully making me able to raise my own children, and having the opportunity to meet my grandchildren—something that, sadly, my late mother (and her late mother) were never able to do. WHEN I survive this, I will be the first female with BRCA1+ in my family to survive in generations that we know of.

My initial aim was to raise £50,000, which covered the cost of initial egg freezing, a one stage mastectomy and reconstruction, and a full hysterectomy.

However, due to my delicious boobies being so big (SLAY) I have recently been told by my plastic surgery team and my breast surgeon that I need to have a 2 stage mastectomy. This means I need to have a significant skin and breast tissue reduction 6 months ahead of the second stage of the mastectomy. Aka a whole extra surgery, which my team have told me will be £8000 minimum.

My hope is to be able to have both major mastectomy surgeries next year in 2025. This gives me adequate recovery time and the chance to progress with my egg freezing and hysterectomy in order to ensure these are complete by the time I am 35 as advised by my expert medical team.

After the second stage mastectomy, further additional costs will include:

Specialist mastectomy bras and compression support
Nipple reconstruction/tattooing
Long term storage of my eggs
Physiotherapy/specialist PT (that the NHS will not cover but is essential in order for me return to my line of work)
Additional medical support after surgery, including dressings, wound support and help purchasing drains (after breast surgery, a drain is placed into the wound to remove blood and tissue fluid to allow good healing for up to 3 weeks)
The living costs over many months before I am able to return to work as a performer and choreographer (I am not eligible for any government support as a freelancer.)

The difference I now aim to raise in addition to my surgery costs will contribute towards the above.

Throughout this journey, I am also committed to continue investing, advocating and bringing attention and research to BRCA1+ and women’s health.

I have recently made and released a documentary which covers my story and my need to fundraise in my own words – you can watch it here.

Every donation, every share, every time you so much as have a conversation about my journey or BRCA1+, you are truly making a difference beyond measure, not only to me, but to generations of women ahead of me who deserve to live long lives.

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to hold space for me.

Love Beaux