Once upon a time I was
an introverted whimsical illustrator approaching retirement after a long
and rather enjoyable and satisfying career.
I had planned on
just fading into the background and enjoying the artist’s life without
art directors, editors, agents, and other gatekeepers. Maybe donate a
few art supplies where needed and continuing to volunteer for the NPS
and maybe paint “happy little trees” somewhere green. But something
happened that should have never happened. Hereditary cancer changed
everything.
Being a cancer caregiver, solo parent of a previvor,
and a hereditary cancer awareness and prevention advocate was something I
could have never imagined. It’s the flip side of whimsical. And I
really don't want to be there.
Here is a link to an article about how my late wife's nightmare cancer story began and how I became a hereditary cancer prevention advocate. https://www.brcastrong.org/blog/hereditary-cancer-changed-everything
I only share this story in the
hopes that the conversation about hereditary cancer will improve among
families with a history of cancer and health care professionals that at
times seem unaware that there are cancers that can be prevented. Nobody
should die of a preventable cancer. Nobody!
Thank you BRCAStrong for asking me to share this story.
Also, see my story at FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, "An Individual Doesn't Get Cancer, a Family Does"
