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Lindsay Avner
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25 years old // Founder and executive director of the breast and ovarian cancer awareness nonprofit Bright Pink // Raised in Columbus, Ohio; lives in River North
Two days after I graduated from the University of Michigan, I found out that my mom had tested positive for the breast cancer gene. The doctors looked at me and said, "What are you going to do?" I decided to take the test, too. // I'm not going to tell you it wasn't overwhelming,* but you have to be able to pick yourself up and develop a plan. I felt as though I needed to pave the way for others. You can go through this surgery** and still feel feminine and sexy. // My friends are all a lot wilder than I am, which is great. It's what I'm drawn to. I always say you can tone someone down a little, but it's hard to tone down someone who isn't that exciting. // I have a goofy side, but you have to know me before I start singing along to Bon Jovi songs. // A part of me is like any 25-year-old who wants to find my Prince Charming and fall in love.
* On being diagnosed with the gene, in June 2005. ** A preventive double mastectomy, in August 2006
Earrings by K. Amato
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Reader Comments:
I just read this article and had to respond to it because I just wrote an article, which offers an alternative to getting a masectomy. Here is the link. I would love to here feedback regarding the article.
http://www.examiner.com/x-17146-Dallas-Womens-Health-Examiner~y2009m7d15-Should-women-replace-Mammagrophay-with-Breast-Thermography?cid=email-this-article