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Kerrie appeals for support for breast cancer research
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Kerrie appeals for support for breast cancer research

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Kerrie Douglas (34) from Ballymoney is waiting to have preventative surgery after she found out she has the BRCA2 mutant gene. Kerrie has three children, Mackenzie (14), Khalyn (8) and Cade (7).

Kerrie says:

“My Nana on my father’s side took ill before Christmas two years ago and was being treated in hospital for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). They discovered that she had a mass on her breast which was diagnosed as breast cancer.

kerrie-douglas-2

When we looked back there had been quite a number of women in the family who’ve died from ovarian and breast cancer over the years. One of my grandmother’s nieces was diagnosed with BRCA2 and my Nana said it might be wise for all of us to be tested.

I’d known nothing about BRCA2 but once we started talking about being tested I did a bit of research on the internet myself up to date on the information. I had the test done and six weeks later the result came back positive. It was a huge shock and I’m still trying to come to terms with it.

I was diagnosed a year ago and was told I would have a preventative double mastectomy by the end of this year. Since then I’ve been told I’ve been pushed back to early next year (2017) because so many people are being treated for cancer.l-r-khalyn-cade-and-mackenzie-douglas

It is an anxious time and I’m terrified about what lies ahead. But even before I got the test result I knew I would have the surgery for the sake of the children. I didn’t feel there was any other choice. I just feel lucky that I’ve had my family already. Now I’m just on the waiting list.

I hadn’t realised how many other people have the mutant gene too. Before I felt it was only me but I’ve made a whole new network of friends online who you can share your problems and thoughts with, which is very reassuring.

Research into this condition is so important. Obviously my own children will have to be tested now. I’m hoping that by the time they are grown-up a lot more will be known about the condition, that it will be easier to detect and there will be better treatments.

Preventative surgery can be devastating, particularly if you’re young and have no children. Hopefully in years to come people won’t have to go through what I’m going through. The more research there is the better – it’s vitally important – and I’d encourage everyone to help with fundraising or make a donation to Cancer Focus NI.kerrie-douglas-with-her-children

Fantastic work into BRCA is being done at QUB, so you’d be supporting local researchers too.

My  Nana sadly passed away; no one wants to see someone they love get breast cancer, so she is another reason I feel so passionately that I want to help.”

If you’d like to organise an In Pink event with Cancer Focus NI, get your fundraising pack at  www.cancerfocusni.org, call the fundraising team on 028 9066 3281 or email fundraising@cancerfocusni.org.

If you’re worried about cancer call the Cancer Focus NI free NurseLine on 0800 783 3339.