Opinion: How I took steps in my 20s to avoid getting cancer

I’ve never had cancer. But it has still shaped my entire life.

I’m a BRCA1 “previvor.” You may never have heard that term before; it was coined by an organization called FORCE over 25 years ago. I carry a gene mutation that increases my risk for breast and ovarian cancer and other kinds, and that’s why, even though I’m in my late 20s, I’ve already undergone high-risk surveillance and a preventative mastectomy. I’ve also had to spend a lot of time thinking about how to preserve my fertility. All this may sound like a lot for someone my age, but I don’t regret the path I’ve taken at all.

Thankfully, the journey of someone close to me helped show me the way. My mom learned that she was BRCA positive when I was 3 years old. By taking preventative steps — including a prophylactic mastec