Awareness with Jamie

Meet Jamie Vento - you can follow her @jvento13

Meet @jvento13! She is an incredible woman, mommy to two beautiful daughters, and was diagnosed with cancer AFTER her preventative double mastectomy. This is her story.

I’ve known for 10 years that I was a BRCA2 carrier. With my doctor’s advice, I chose to do surveillance. I’d get married, have my kids and revisit my options at a later date. My doctors said I had until I was 40 years old.

I watched my mom who had breast, melanoma and thyroid cancer and grandma go through their own diagnosis. I considered myself lucky –not because I too am #BRCA2 but lucky that I had the knowledge that empowered me to make the decisions I did.

I got tested every every 6 months, alternating MRIs with mammograms and ultrasounds. In 2016, I had my usual screening. I was sent home with a clean bill of health, but I was unnerved by the radiologist, who had zeroed in on a spot that he said was not a problem. His look of hesitation stuck with me.

So last January at 33, I took matters into my own hands and went in for the preventative surgery –determined to come out on the other side victorious and relieved –well, cancer had plans of its own. A shock to family/friends -cancer had already gotten to me and was Stage 1A DCIS, HER2-ER/PR+. Another surgery followed that included a lymph node dissection (16 to be exact) and left nipple removal. I was devastated and frankly just so pissed off!! How was this fair??

Throughout my recovery and reconstruction I have learned this was actually a blessing in disguise, because I’m OK and I will be around for my daughters; hoping they don’t fall into this “elite group” one day. Things could have been much worse; only needing Tamoxifen for 5 years and enduring some battle scars –but also getting awesome new FOOBS!

I have taken this experience and turned it into awareness for other women out there with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Cancer does not discriminate but with the knowledge we have we certainly can get close to beating the odds of a diagnosis, even though mine didn’t quite work out as planned that way. Be strong, not afraid!