What happened, in summary

Amanda knew that a CDH1 gene mutation ran in the family and increased the risk of both breast cancer and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. Amanda’s mother had breast cancer, while a sister and brother had gastric cancer. After testing positive for the familial CDH1 deletion, Amanda chose preventive surgery because of that inherited risk.

A prophylactic double mastectomy was performed, and breast cancer was found only when the removed tissue was examined afterward. Amanda also underwent a preventive total gastrectomy, where hereditary diffuse gastric cancer was found on pathology; that gastric cancer is handled as a separate cancer journey.

The combined surgeries changed daily life substantially. Amanda described more than 7 years of follow-up procedures, physical limitations, and long-term effects, with the gastrectomy in particular causing ongoing difficulty eating. The health changes contributed to leaving work and learning to live at a slower pace. Amanda relied heavily on family, friends, support groups, and therapy and encouraged others facing hereditary cancer to accept help and advocate for themselves. Despite the continuing effects of surgery, Amanda said all of the cancer had been removed and remained optimistic about being alive.