FORCE conference in Philly

Last month was a busy month for me with all things breast cancer related-- but for a GOOD reason: travel! My first trip was to Philadelphia to attend the annual FORCE conference. This organization is beyond amazing in their research & support for hereditary breast & ovarian cancer. They're always on the forefront of the latest studies and research. I love how passionate they are about BRCA 1&2 and how much they want to help people (and families) like myself. When I found out they were also partnering with the Basser Institute I knew I had to attend because it'd be amazing stuff. And it was, they did not disappoint!

 

I was fortunate to attend on a full scholarship and I strongly encourage others to do the same in the future! I applied on a whim, not thinking I'd get it, and they covered my entire trip. I was so incredibly thankful for this opportunity! Sidenote: FORCE is also responsible for covering the funds to get my entire family tested for the BRCA2 gene. It is an incredibly expensive genetic test and they made it possible for 4 of my family members to get tested, at no cost of their own. To say that we love FORCE is a huge understatement!

So off to Philly I went, for my first ever trip to the northeast-- talk about a culture shock for this southern girl! I was very lucky to have two amazing roommates to spend my weekend with. One of which is actually a distant cousin of mine because we share the exact same DNA code genetic mutation. Crazy huh? What a small world this BRCA community is! {It definitely helps lessen the "I feel like a freak" mentality that I've lived when since I was diagnosed.}

The speakers/researchers/doctors that FORCE had lined up to present at the conference made me completely star-struck. If you would've told me five years ago that at the age of 31 I'd be excited to go learn about ovarian cancer detection, I'd have said you were crazy. But these are people that are world-renowned in their subject matter and have done such great things for this community. Several of them are doctors that I've been stalking for the last few years for advice on my specific case.

The most inspirational doctors there were Dr. Domchek of the Basser Institute, Dr. Kauff from MSK, and Dr. Ann Partridge from Harvard. All of these doctors I'd spoken to prior to the conference and I was so anxious to touch base with them again. Their presentations were simply amazing and left me in tears as I was so overwhelmed by their amazing knowledge and support for cases like my own. It gave me hope for my future, hope for my family's future, and comfort knowing that they are outstanding medical personnel out there fighting for us. Plus I decided if I could move to Boston and have Dr. Patridge as my doctor {& best friend!} I totally would! I was simply in awe of their determination to fight for the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer community.

I left the conference feeling so grateful; just thankful for the opportunity to hear these people present, to learn about the amazing work that FORCE continues to do, and blessed to even still be here to take in this experience. Thank you, FORCE!

 *Next up: an even better trip to Chicago!!