The women in my family have been plagued by cancer for generations.  My mother lost her grandmother, mother and only sister to breast cancer.   They all died far too young - in their 30’s.  To avoid this seemingly certain fate, my mom had prophylactic (preventative) mastectomies in the early 70’s when it was unheard of to have such a surgery without having a diagnosis of cancer.  I believe that saved her life – she never developed breast cancer.  She was however diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer 12 years ago.  A true fighter, Mom beat the odds and is healthy and cancer free!

We learned that breast and ovarian cancer were linked to the BRCA genes and my mom and I both tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation in 2002.  Being BRCA1 positive meant having up to an 87% chance of developing breast cancer and a 44% chance of developing ovarian cancer.   Like my mom, I chose to be proactive.

Fortunately, I found a wonderful organization, FORCE, to help me with the difficult decisions I faced.  FORCE enabled me to be informed of the latest research on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), provided me with the support I needed from other BRCA positive women and helped me find the wonderful doctors who performed my surgeries.  FORCE was my lifesaver!

I hold this organization very dear to my heart. I volunteer my time to help other families affected by HBOC, serving as the Atlanta Outreach Coordinator for the last 5 years.  FORCE is run entirely by volunteers. To raise awareness, and to continue to educate you, the public, and to raise money, the Chat-A-Thon was born.  This year’s Chat-A-Thon takes place this weekend and we are asking for your help.

I hope to raise at least $1000 for FORCE.  Please consider making a tax deductible contribution so that FORCE can continue its good work.  It is easy and secure to donate online.  No amount is too small!  My page will remain open for several months.

Cancer struck my family again and I recently lost my only sister, Leah, to brain cancer - she was 37.  While Leah’s death was not related to the BRCA gene, it was yet another tragic example of the devastation of cancer.  Please help find a cure by supporting cancer research.

Thank you so much for your support,

 Carol

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. You will receive a tax receipt by email. 

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!