My Breast Cancer Journey, and Why Knowledge is Power

By Ronnie Powers

In August of 1996, at the age of 44, I had my annual appointment for a mammogram. I started getting mammograms at 35 since most of the women on my father’s side of the family died of either breast or ovarian cancer at an early age, so I was considered high-risk.

You might be thinking to yourself, “Wait, did she say her father’s side?” Yes, I did.

I remember that day almost 28 years ago as if it was yesterday. I had my mammogram, and the radiologist found a highly suspicious group of cells and wanted me to go for a biopsy as soon as I could.

After my surgical biopsy — which showed an aggressive form of breast cancer — my follow-up treatment included lumpectomy followed by chemotherapy, radiation and tamoxifen.

At the time, my two children were 14 and 12, and I worked full-time as a special education teacher. To add to the story, my son was to become a bar mitzvah in October.

In 1996, research was exploding about genetics and cancer. I was diagnosed around the same time that the first genes associated with hereditary cancer were discovered by American geneticist Mary Claire-King. I volunteered to become part of a study that Dr. Claire-King was running out of the University of Washington.

I, and my family, would become part of the New York Breast Cancer Study and make the decision to find out if I carried the BRCA gene.

It was a big decision to make as the results would affect my whole family. If I was positive for the gene, they would have to make a decision whether they wanted to know if they carried the gene, and all the difficult decisions that would ultimately come with this knowledge.

The first part of this study was to undergo genetic counseling. I can’t stress enough how important it is to work with a genetic counselor who can guide you and have the knowledge to answer all your questions. They are there for you both educationally and emotionally.

It was no surprise after looking at my family tree that I was positive for the BRCA2 gene. This gene has a 50% chance of being passed on. Both parents do not have to be carriers.

We know my father carried the gene because my mother, who was alive at the time, tested negative. We also found out through further testing that we were one of eight families in the entire United States to carry both BRCA1 and 2, as my brother carries the 1 and I carry the 2. My father carried both.

This was the beginning of my becoming an advocate. I talked to the New York Times, The Record, The Jewish Standard and to groups on carrying the gene, what it means, what are the risks, how it affects your children, your grandchildren … and so my story continues to this day.

Both of my children as well as my nephew have been tested and are positive for the gene. They have already made many difficult choices regarding their health and their children’s — but that is their story to tell.

Since carrying this gene came with a much greater risk of ovarian cancer, I had a prophylactic hysterectomy in 1999. In 2010, after having another scare, I decided to have a double mastectomy, which was a great choice for me. If I knew at the time of diagnosis that I carried the gene, I would have had a double mastectomy in 1996,

Again, knowledge is power.

Today, the gene is associated with not only greater risks for breast (female and male) and ovarian cancer, but also linked to prostate and pancreatic cancer.

So I write this as not only as a breast cancer survivor but a mom who has passed on the BRCA gene to both her daughter and son with the knowledge that my four grandchildren could also be carrying the gene.

My goal is to encourage you, whether you have a family history or not, to avail yourself of all the wonderful information provided by the Jewish genetic testing and education organization JScreen. It is now easier than it has ever been to access genetic testing. Part of their process is speaking with a genetic counselor via telehealth for the results, to help impact your life and your family’s.

For information, visit jscreen.org.

A resident of Oakland, New Jersey, Ronnie Powers is the mother of two children, Julie and Daniel, and has four grandchildren. She is a retired special education teacher who works for William Paterson University supervising clinical interns. She is a genetic testing advoacate.