Brenda’s Story: Illness invades a life without any forewarning or permission. Breast cancer became a part of Brenda’s life suddenly and unexpectedly. This unplanned journey began on Memorial Day weekend in 1986; Brenda was just 46 years old. This was a disease that her mother went through just several years prior, in 1984. Although her mother was treated and recovered well at the time, it did not make things easier.

Brenda chose to have a mastectomy with a seven month chemotherapy regime. There wasn’t time for her to think, feel or assess much of anything. She was inspired to deal with the disease similarly to how her mother did, emulating her strong sense of composure and her ability to make things happen for herself. Her mother tried to protect her of the disease, as Brenda did for her own children.

However, as the years went by, cancer began to affect many more of her family members. First a cousin at 39 had a double mastectomy. Then, a male cousin was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 55 followed by his daughters at ages 30 and 35, both young mothers with breast cancer. Brenda was told that their family had inherited a gene mutation which made them more prone to cancer.

Each day Brenda looks to her grandchildren, wondering “How do I protect them?” She wishes she could wrap them in a cocoon and whisk them away from this horrible disease. As devastating as a cancer diagnosis is, Brenda realizes that it is not unbeatable.  Brenda recognizes strength is her most powerful tool and it is through research commitments that the lives of mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers and children can be saved.