`Dear Friends, Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  In six weeks I am having a preventative double mastectomy and I am trying to raise awareness of the BRCA genes whilst also raising some funds for Chaicancercare.  You can simply make a donation to this amazing charity via this page or at the same time make a guess as to what you think my boobs weigh (TBC).  Please take the time to read my full bio below.

At the end of 2018 my gorgeous 28 year old niece in the USA found out she had breast cancer.  The utter shock and numbness hit our family hard and we became aware of the BRCA genes that are present in many Ashkenazi jewish families and in particular in our family of the BRCA 1 gene which strongly raises the risk of a woman developing ovarian and breast cancer during her life.

However one prepares for a possibility of anything, it can still send you into a tailspin with the momentum of all the unanswered questions whirring around in your head.  Once I found out I was positive for the BRCA1 gene, I decided to have my ovaries removed.  As a woman about to turn 60, that very personal crossroads was not one littered with indecision and so within three months of finding out about BRCA I had already reduced one element of my risk exposure.  Please don't get me wrong - none of this is or was easy.  It is a conundrum disguised as a choice presenting as a blessing shrouded by a veil of misgiving!  It is a rollercoaster nobody ever wants to ride.

At that point I thought I had settled on my future handling of this issue by going for annual mammograms and screenings.  But then uncharacteristically I wavered and decided to opt for a double mastectomy so as to significantly reduce my chance of developing breast cancer.  At the beginning my risk was 80% which halved to 40% after my oopherectomy and after this upcoming surgery, it will reduce again to under the national average.

So next week I am putting myself into the hands of my wonderful surgeon and plastic surgeon and the team at the Wellington Hospital.  If it wasn't for the fact that she operates on a Wednesday, I would have had the surgery on Pancake Day or as I will now refer to it 'Flat as a pancake day'.  I have been told I have a great sense of humour and quirky sense of fun and this is my way of dealing with this intensely difficult, serious situation that I find myself in.  You all have an opportunity to donate to an incredible charity (Chaicancercare) and you can also, if you choose to, speculate what you think my boobs will weigh.  I am not doing this glibly or flippantly, but taking the decision to turn this experience into an even more positive one by raising awareness of the BRCA genes, raising spirits and raising some money for a wonderful charity.  I truly thank you in anticipation of your donation and all my family and friends for their support of me as I deal with this.

Please feel free to share my story as you see fit.

Jools xx

This is my update:  So I  had my double mastectomy a week ago and I must say a huge 'thank you' to the surgical team at the Wellington and to everyone who has, in their own way, supported this episode in my life.  It has been quite an enlightening experience and a lightening one too - literally!!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.