Family ties run deep, but for these three sisters, a shared genetic mutation brought their bond into sharper focus. Black women are often underrepresented in genetic research, and studies show they are less likely to be informed about hereditary cancers or offered genetic testing, even when family history suggests risk.
For these sisters, the stakes were deeply personal. They lost their mom, aunts, and grandmother to breast cancer. Learning that they carried the BRCA1 gene, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, brought both fear and clarity. Each sister processed it differently, shaped by her own experiences and obstacles. Not everyone has the support of sisterhood; some women navigate this news alone. That’s why they shared their story, to remind others they are not alone, and understanding your risk is power.
Vadye – The Survivor
Vadye faced breast cancer head-on and emerged stronger, embodying resilience and hope.
Q: What was it like to learn about your family’s history and the risk it brings?
Honestly, I wasn’t surprised. Breast and ovarian cancer have always been part of my family’s story, my mom, her sisters, and my cousins have experienced it. I remember seeing my Aunt Julie’s mastectomy scar when I was little, that image never left me. When I found a lump before turning 30, doctors didn’t want to biopsy it because they told my mom to get tested first. When she tested positive, I knew it was just a matter of time before I faced it too. Learning about the gene was empowering. It helped me push for answers, get a second opinion, and discover my own cancer early enough to save my life.
Q: How has knowing about the BRCA1 gene changed the way you think about your health and future?
It changed everything. Knowing about the gene pushed me to take my health seriously and advocate for myself. I discovered I had two types of breast cancer-one in each breast-and had a double mastectomy. I’ve been in remission now for about eight years. I don’t see it as something to fear; I see it as knowledge that gave me a second chance. The earlier you know, the better your outcome-and it’s helped my siblings take preventive steps too.
Carlie – The Previvor
Carlie discovered she carried the BRCA1 mutation and made the proactive decision to undergo preventive surgery to safeguard her future.
Q: What are your earliest memories of learning about your family’s history with cancer?
When I was eight when my grandmother came home with one less breast. No one explained why cancer was so severe, and she couldn’t care for us anymore. In my overactive mind, I thought you could catch it from hugging too long. So many of my aunts were losing their hair and thinning out; it felt like cancer was easily transmissible. The funerals were hard to attend, where one aunt, then another aunt, and another passed away. The grief and the aftershock lasted months and months after that. I lost women I loved before I even got my period, and I was terrified when my mom got it at fifteen. It felt like my childhood was marred by loss.
Years later, for my 27th birthday, I got an ancestry kit. I spat in a tube for fun and uploaded my DNA to a free site. While joking with my sister about family traits, she went quiet when the report said BRCAl. She knew what it meant, and that moment opened the door to her own diagnosis weeks later.
Q: What has been one of your biggest challenges since discovering your BRCA1 status?
Balancing fear with function. I had to make decisions about surgeries while raising five kids and working 12-hour sets. I didn’t have the luxury to fall apart. The hardest part wasn’t the surgery itself but facing that eight-year-old me that kept her distance from Man Yiyi, Mom, and her sister doing chemo. It took years to forgive myself for the distance I kept because I fear death, loss, and having to integrate grief all over again.
Carrying that kind of memory is something I still have to consciously work through every day. Experiencing so much death and loss isolates me and shapes how I connect with people and the community around me.
Patricia – The Envior
Patricia also carries the BRCA1 gene and wants to pursue preventive measures like her sister, but she faces medical barriers that make her care complicated.
Q: What are your earliest memories of cancer?
Growing up, I remember my aunt only had one breast and wore padding on the other side. As a child, I noticed but never asked why. Years later, at fifteen, I helped care for her during chemotherapy. I wasn’t asked, and I was told, “This is what needs to be done.” To me, that’s what family truly does, we show up.
It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, watching someone so strong become fragile. But that experience shaped me. Caring for her and later for my grandmother, my mother, and other relatives became part of who I am. It deepened my compassion even when it tested my faith.
Q: What has been one of your biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced is caring for others while also making difficult decisions about my own health. My family and I have had to discuss when and how I should move forward with removing my breasts, ovaries, and uterus. They are decisions that are both emotionally and physically overwhelming
Why BRCA1 Awareness Matters for Black Women
- Increased Risk: BRCA1 carriers have a significantly higher lifetime risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
- Underrepresented: Black women are often underrepresented in genetic research, leading to gaps in education and preventive care.
- Early Detection Saves Lives: Genetic testing and proactive care empower women to take preventive steps and access timely treatment.
Resources and Support
If you or a loved one is considering BRCA1 testing or navigating hereditary cancer, these resources can help:
- Facing Our Risk: The BRCA Network – Support and education for those with BRCA mutations. https://www.facingourrisk.org
- National Cancer Institute – BRCA Testing – Information on testing and hereditary cancer risk. https://www.cancer.gov/brca