Jamie's story

There is a strong family history of breast, and other types, of cancer in my family. My mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 48 and is a three-time cancer survivor! She was seen at Johns Hopkins who recommended genetic testing after her second diagnosis and told her I should be tested as well. We were both found to be BRCA2 positive. When I was diagnosed with the BRCA2 mutation, I was in my early 30’s, single, living in Washington, DC, working in commercial real estate.

I was urged to strongly consider a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy and oophorectomy. This was a lot to process because I wasn’t married yet and knew I wanted to have children one day. When would I get married? How would this impact timing for having children? How would this impact my life? Questions I did not have answers for. Until I made a decision on surgeries, I was told I would need to alternate between a mammogram and ultrasound every six months and have a transvaginal ultrasound every six months.

My career brought me to south Florida in 2013. I met a wonderful man a year later and we are married and have a four-year-old son who is the light of our lives. My scans continued every six months and an annual abdominal scan for pancreatic cancer was added to my protocol around 2019. At the age of 43, something suspicious was seen on my mammogram. Ultrasounds and biopsies were performed on both breasts, and cancer was detected in my right breast.

Because I had been diligent about my health care, it was a very early-stage breast cancer. In September of 2023, I opted to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and, fortunately, my lymph nodes biopsies were negative. Reconstructive surgery has been an arduous process, and I had a setback due to a Staph infection and additional unplanned surgeries, but my final surgery was on June 19, 2024, and I feel good.

I still have my ovaries, but due to my BRCA2 status, I am at a higher risk of ovarian cancer. My husband and I always thought we would add to our family. It took IVF to have our son and after much discussion, we decided not to put my body through that again and cherish what we have. I will have my ovaries removed either later this year or early next year.

My care team has been absolutely wonderful! If you go through something like this, you should have a patient navigator. Donna Skillings made me instantly feel safe, seen, and covered. I never felt judged, and she always listened to me actively, making me feel heard. Compassionate and kind, just the best. Dr. Rimmer is equally as compassionate and kind. He is calm, patient, gentle, and extremely knowledgeable. He carefully walked my husband and me through all the steps to come and we both felt so safe and comfortable. Other members of my team include Dr. Lickstein, my plastic surgeon, who completed my reconstructive surgeries. He, too, is kind, patient, and a skilled surgeon, and his entire team was great to work with. My infectious diseases team, Dr. Diaz and Nurse Practitioner Adriana Rodriguez, is outstanding. They never took their eyes off me and adjusted my medications over and over until we found the right fit. They are all so thoughtful and knowledgeable. And Dr. McKeen has been my medical oncologist since I moved to Florida. (Prior to my cancer diagnosis) She and her entire team are warm, kind, knowledgeable and truly feel like family. I could not have asked for a better experience.

Over the past 10 months, I have learned to slow down, to rest, and to take time to rev back up again. I’ve allowed myself to feel my full range of emotions and I’m working with my therapist to minimize the gap between my head and my heart. I own a leadership development and commercial real estate consulting firm and my clients have given me the space and time I needed to heal. I am blessed and happy.

My message to others – Be proactive in your health care. You know your body better than anyone. Cancer does not discriminate, so it’s important to know your family history and listen to your body. Find a health care team you can connect with and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and your loved ones.