cortney and connie: twin sisters carrying the brca2 gene

this year alone, more than 30,000 canadians are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer.  my journey began in 2015, when i was just 29 years old. a lump under my left armpit initially seemed insignificant, but when pain emerged, my mom insisted i visit the hospital. that visit resulted in a diagnosis of stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma.

the weight of that diagnosis was immense, and i can still recall the tears and anger i felt in that moment. being diagnosed at such a young age was transformative, as i had so much i wanted to achieve.  in the wake of my diagnosis, i encouraged my sister connie to get checked as well. within weeks, she discovered two suspicious lumps in her left breast and received a diagnosis of stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma.

we soon learned that both of us carry the brca2 gene, a genetic mutation that increases the likelihood of developing breast cancer at a younger age. this experience underscores the importance of genetic testing and the need for continued research into the genetics of breast cancer, which is crucial for earlier detection and treatment.

breast cancer canada is funding innovative research. for example, dr. saima hassan at the centre de recherche de centre hospitalier de l’universite de montreal is exploring how tumor environments influence the effectiveness of parp inhibitors in treating patients with brca mutations. while complex, research projects like these are vital for advancing targeted treatments that can extend and enhance lives. however, this research cannot continue without the support of friends and advocates like you.

the moment i discovered i was pregnant with my second child was unexpected. after undergoing radiation treatments and eight rounds of chemotherapy in my late twenties, my husband and i had come to terms with the idea that expanding our family might not be in the cards. life, as my mom always said, is full of surprises, and the past ten years have certainly shown that to be true.

following the birth of my miracle baby, avery, i defied the odds once again with the arrival of my third child, harlow, in 2019. but in 2020, a lump on my neck reignited my fears, revealing that my cancer had returned—this time, diagnosed as stage 4.

at 34, i was confronted with the reality of metastatic breast cancer. my sister connie faced a similar trajectory. after five years without recurrence and two years after being declared cancer-free, a small tumor was found in her lung. at 36, she was also diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. both of us now rely on targeted therapy drugs, made possible by advancements in research. i always thought that our experiences as twins would mirror each other, but our bodies have responded quite differently to treatment. this reinforces my belief in the necessity of personalized care for breast cancer patients like us.

as a mother, i worry not just about my future and connie’s but also about my children, who now have a 50% chance of inheriting this gene mutation.

thanks to research, we are finding new methods for earlier detection of breast cancer and making significant strides in personalized treatment. because of research and the support of individuals like you, we know that more progress is attainable.

visit breastcancerprogress.ca/fall24 to donate to research today.