It’s that time of year again, CIBC Run for the Cure, raising money for breast cancer research! 

        Breast cancer has profoundly affected my family. The BRCA gene runs strong on my Dad’s side of the family. My Aunt Heather, who we recently lost,  fought one hell of a battle against breast cancer. She was the first to receive genetic testing giving the rest of us the power of information and an opportunity to get in front of this disease, a gift I will be forever grateful for. She is going to be greatly missed. 

           My Dad and sister are also BRCA gene carriers. My dad was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and will be having a mastectomy next week. Male breast cancer is rare even in BRCA carriers but it can happen. Luckily it was caught early and the prognosis is good. My sister has been taking steps toward preventative surgery in the future. 

       This fall marks 2 years since my prophylactic double mastectomy. 2 years, 3 surgeries, multiple procedures and complications and I still would make the same choice over again. 

        My families story with the BRCA gene will always be ongoing. As any parent would, I worry about my kids. Chances are high that they will also be carriers of this gene. There is also an increased for other cancers associated with the gene. 

         This is why fundraisers like the CIBC Run for the Cure are so important to me. My hope is that in the near future we will have even better screening, surgical options and treatments for this disease. 

        My love and thoughts go out to anyone impacted by or currently dealing with this disease. Any donation is appreciated and means a lot to me and my family. 

Thank you, 

Ashley