Table of contentsFacing the horror of BRCABRCA. Family history of breast cancerThe miracle cure of BRCAFacing the horror of BRCABRCA. Four simple letters. Four simple letters that can mean nothing in the world. For one person, four simple letters can become the world. Four simple letters that, if you let them get into your head, could destroy you. Four simple letters that can change the way people look at you. But these four simple letters also empower you to improve your situation, rather than remaining silent and letting your destiny get the best of you. Embracing these letters actually brought about a miracle in my life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayThe BRCA gene – short for BReast CAncer – is usually a tumor suppressor gene that all women are born with. It stops our cells from growing or dividing too quickly, repairing and restoring damaged DNA. However, women with a mutation in their BRCA gene have about a 70% chance of getting breast cancer in their lifetime. Less than 10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a BRCA gene mutation. My mother, aunts, grandmother and previous generations of parents were born with this mutation. Unfortunately, my grandmother and aunt found out too late. Family History of Breast Cancer The cancer came to tell my grandmother that she wasn't good enough. That she wasn't good enough to move on with her life. That she wasn't good enough to see her grandchildren grow up. That she would have to undergo intense sessions of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and undergo an operation to remove the tumor. My grandmother fought determinedly for him to leave, but he didn't; he wanted to see her suffer. After months and months of struggle, nausea and hair loss, she finally won: my grandmother became a breast cancer survivor. Less than a year later, this cancer came back to haunt my family. This time, it was not my grandmother who was targeted but rather her daughter. That's when it hit everyone: how could two people from the same family be diagnosed with breast cancer in such a short time? Appointment after appointment, blood test after blood test, waiting anxiously in the doctor's room, my grandmother and aunt discovered confirmation of their treacherous illness – they have the BRCA gene mutation. I accompanied my mother to her doctor's appointment - genetic counseling - where the doctor explained to her what the mutation is and what it means for her future as a woman when she undergoes a double mastectomy and hysterectomy to prevent the risk of cancer. My mother was scared all over because she didn't want to undergo an invasive surgery that she felt would rob her of the very essence of her femininity. I tried to calm her down by helping her see the positive in the mutation – even though I was petrified myself. After the appointment, my mother was convinced that she would not have a mutation test – that if she had cancer, it was part of her destiny and there was nothing she could do about it. It scared me because the woman I admired and who had taught me to never give up had decided to give up. She decided to let fate rule over her and destroy her chances of a healthy future. I felt confused because I didn't understand the harm in having a blood test. However, I was just a sixteen year old girl who didn't understand the risks involved in discovering such important information. After a lot of.