Pink Hope is a charity founded by Krystal Barter, preventative cancer activist, speaker and author after she discovered her family’s cancer history was not by chance but due to a gene fault called BRCA1 (the same gene made famous by Angelina Jolie) which predisposes the carrier to breast and ovarian cancer in women. Pink Hope’s mission is to break the cycle of hereditary cancer – one high risk family at a time. Bright Pink Lipstick Day is Pink Hope’s major event each year and aims to reach all Australians with information and education, to help identify high risk families that need Pink Hopes support. This is Sarah’s story:
In 2009 I found out my Dad was positive for the BRCA1 gene. This was before BRCA1 was the ‘Angelina Jolie gene’, before it appeared in my daily news feed on Facebook and before I gave a second thought to cancer ever affecting my life. Before the news I had been lucky enough that I had not been exposed to cancer in my family & all of a sudden cancer became a household word; because in 2012 my younger brother was diagnosed with a cancerous Melanoma. The news rocked our world and everyone forgot about the gene. He underwent successful treatment and now goes for regular check ups.
He also continues to have a care free attitude about the entire experience, unlike myself and our Mum (we are the stressors and worriers). In June 2013, my cousin Ash and I decided to take the plunge and get tested for the BRCA1. We had been well informed and knew we had a 50% chance of being positive. I have always admired (and envied) Ash’s easy going attitude about the entire thing, as I have controlling and stressful traits. When we got tested, I hated the thought there was a possibility that I could be negative and Ash could be positive.
A few weeks later we were called into the gene specialist office separately…… I was positive & Ash was negative. This sent me into a roller coaster of emotions. I dealt with my diagnosis by immediately planning and readjusting time frames for my life. My first appointment at Sydney’s Westmead Cancer Clinic For Women was daunting and it also frightened me how and when I would tell my future partner about the gene. I was lucky enough that I met the man of my dreams in November 2013 and people are right when they say, ‘you’ll know when you meet the right guy’. Despite my apprehension it was never an issue when I had to explain about the gene. Throughout everything he has been so supportive and continues to stand beside me. After what feels like endless appointments I underwent a mastectomy on the 3rd of September. I felt relieved once it was booked and now feel like I am in control again. Sometimes I wish there was a cut off time when they say, ‘ok here’s the date where you need to take action and that’s it’ but there are simply no dates and no guarantees. I knew this was the right decision for me when my doctor said I would be going from an 80% chance of getting breast cancer to 2%. It was peace of mind and a way I could take control of what was going to happen. I know I won’t ever be able to breast feed my babies but I would rather be there to watch them grow up and support my partner.
