I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2012, when I was 29 years old. I’d found a lump in my breast while on holiday in Brazil, and I knew immediately to get it checked out – my maternal grandmother had breast cancer in her thirties, so I always imagined there might be some family risk.
Because of my age and the way the lump appeared, the doctor was ‘99% sure’ it was a harmless fibroadenoma, but a few tests later, I found out it was cancer. Over the following year, I had surgery (a wide local excision – like a lumpectomy but with a bit extra taken around the lump), plus chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It was a gruelling way to start my thirties, but I was cancer-free.
I was tested for the BRCA gene changes to see if I’d inherited a higher chance of breast or ovarian cancers. The test came back negative, but the geneticist told me that in future, they’d be able to test for other gene changes. I went away to live my life – for a whole decade. I started a new career as a food writer, travelled the world and even wrote my first novel, Single Bald Female, inspired by my experiences of dating after breast cancer.
Sadly, in 2022, not long after my book was published, I found out the cancer was back and had spread to my bones. I’d been experiencing pain around my breastbone area and knew there was a risk it could be secondary breast cancer. It was now incurable, but there were lots of drugs to keep me alive for as long as possible.
When I got my secondary diagnosis, I was told that testing was now available for new gene changes. The same geneticist from 2012 was able to re-test the DNA sample I’d given back then so I needn’t even do a blood test – isn’t science amazing?
Then I got the news I’d waited a decade for: I was born with a broken PALB2 gene. I was ecstatic. I finally knew why I got cancer! It might seem odd to feel pleased about having faulty genes, but I’d always known there must be something in my family history, so it was a relief to have answers. Of course, the downside is the potential impact on my relatives, but at least now we know about it, family members can get tested when the time is right. I truly believe knowledge is power.
Now for the science bit. We are all born with BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 genes. BRCA stands for BReast CAncer, and these genes actually protect us against breast (and ovarian) cancer. PALB2 is a gene that works with BRCA to help protect us. But sometimes genes have spelling mistakes or faults, and when a breast cancer gene is faulty, you’re at greater risk of breast cancer. The numbers vary, but I was told my broken PALB2 gene gives me around a 40% chance of getting breast cancer in my lifetime, vs. about 12% in the general population. Fortunately for me, the risk of ovarian cancer is much lower with PALB2 than it is with BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Having the PALB2 gene change hasn’t changed my treatment. I have regular PET-CT scans to check on my cancer (currently, everything is stable) and I’m on treatment for life to keep my cancer at bay. What it does change is my mindset. It has given me the answers I’ve been seeking for 13 years, and it’s told me that getting breast cancer was not my fault – a higher chance of breast cancer was in my DNA from birth. (Side note: breast cancer is never your fault, but there are lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent it, like eating healthily, exercising, and the all-important chest-checking to make sure anything is caught early).
As I write this in 2025, I’m approaching the three-year anniversary of my secondary breast cancer diagnosis and the 13th anniversary of my primary diagnosis. Although I’m on treatment for life, I’ve just walked a full marathon for CoppaFeel! and I feel positive about the future. Having the PALB2 gene change hasn’t changed my prognosis but it certainly has empowered me. Not only do I have the peace of mind that comes with understanding why I developed breast cancer in the first place, I can also help educate others about their risks and pass on knowledge to the next generation. That, to me, is priceless.
Follow Laura’s story on Instagram @laurapricewrites, read her novel Single Bald Female or subscribe to the Breast Cancer Now Podcast, where she hosts open, honest conversations around all aspects of breast cancer.
