Help August With Her Preventative Mastectomy

2023 UPDATE:

Unfortunately, the day of my original surgery date (December 20, 2022) I tested positive with Covid and surgery had to be pushed back. My new surgery date is May 9!! And this time it’s actually happening!

Breast cancer has always been a huge part of my life and I've decided to take control so I’m graduating college a semester early (December ‘22) and on December 20 I’ll be having a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with an aesthetic flat closure at The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans, LA and will be staying down there for two weeks following. 

Background:

My mom was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer at the age of 42 (when I was 11) and her mom was first diagnosed at 38 and then again with stage 4 at 66, and recently passed away after her 9 year battle. My great grandmothers on both sides also had breast cancer, my maternal great-grandma passing away at 38 y/o. Because of this, ever since I was in middle school I knew breast cancer would most likely be part of my future. 

In Summer 2020, after I was my mom's caregiver for her reconstruction surgeries in New Orleans, I underwent genetic testing to see what my overall lifetime risk was. The results came back and thankfully I do not carry BRCA 1 or 2 (the breast cancer gene that puts women in the 60-80% lifetime risk of breast cancer) but I do have an unknown variant of the MSH2 gene. Basically, science is not advanced enough to say what my slightly altered MSH2 gene does to my risk of breast cancer.

Why I’m having surgery:

Regardless, my risk of breast cancer is still high. The genetic counselor determined I have a 1/3 (33%) overall lifetime risk for developing breast cancer (for reference, the average woman has a risk of ~10%). 

After being thoroughly inspired by both my mom and grandma during their cancer battles, I decided I wanted to take charge of my cancer journey so I contacted the breast center in New Orleans to see what my options were. Although they usually wait until around 25 years old, due to my high risk and the fact I was my mom's caregiver for her surgeries, they agreed upon doing the prophylactic mastectomy for me when I will be 21 years old and freshly graduated from college.

To be honest, I wasn't sure they would do it at my age so when I received the good news there were so many happy tears. I am getting the chance to remove what feels like two ticking time bombs off of my body, a chance I am so grateful to have.

This surgery will take my chances of breast cancer from 33% to ~5-9% (amazing, right?!?!). To put it simply, surgery will entail removing all of the breast tissue possible and then closing the incisions off to look at flat as possible (aesthetic flat closure reconstruction) This will be followed by a 3-4 night stay in the hospital, two weeks in New Orleans for close monitoring, and 2-3 months until I'm fully recovered with no restrictions. 

Costs will not only include out of pocket surgery costs for what insurance doesn't cover but also travel to and from New Orleans, accommodations for 2 weeks, recovery supplies (such as surgical bras). For the surgery alone, I will be responsible for paying around $4000 two weeks before my surgery date. 

As I'm sure you can guess, this surgery is very costly and is an overwhelming undertaking at 21 years old, but it is what I feel I have to do to live my best and fullest life post-college graduation!

Any form of support you are able to give will be an immense help through this whole process! Whether that means donating what you can or simply sharing my fundraiser, everything will help and be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!