Everyone touched by breast cancer has their own story, and as the Program Coordinator for Women At Risk, I am no exception. Three years ago, I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer. Meanwhile, my mother’s sister was, and is still, battling breast cancer. This string of cancer diagnoses (my grandfather had died years before of prostate cancer) led my family to genetic testing, where we discovered that our family had been passing down what is often referred to as the “breast cancer gene.” I was tested for the genetic mutation, and my results were positive- BRCA 2 positive.

What my BRCA 2 mutation means is that although I’m 23, eat healthy, and exercise, the chance that I will develop breast cancer within my lifetime is somewhere between 80 and 95%. And the chance that it will happen at a young age is also very high. I have seen and continue to live the reality of breast cancer in my family every day. This, in all forms, makes me, Lisa, a Woman At Risk.

Here in NYC, there are so many women like me. There are those that are already using all of the strength they have to battle the breast cancer that ravages their bodies and minds, those who have faced breast cancer and defeated it, and also those who are faced with fear and major life decisions based on their elevated risk for the disease. Women at Risk is committed to helping all of these women through research, education, and support. We thank you for allowing us to continue this mission.