Meet the ‘previvors’: Women who have an increased risk for cancer – CBC

The term is increasingly used by those with a hereditary gene mutation that increases the risk of cancer

Apr 22, 2023

It was a call Anne Jisca Meyer had been dreading.

Her sister Emm had breast cancer and underwent genetic testing to determine if it was related to a hereditary mutation.

She called Jisca Meyer to let her know that she had tested positive for PALB2, a genetic mutation that puts individuals at a higher risk for breast cancer.

“Even though that was not my result, it was hers, it was opening the door to 50 per cent chance that I have it as well. I already had five kids and I wish I’d known this before having five kids,” said the stay-at-home mom from her home in Red River, Ont.

Jisca Meyer would later test positive for PALB2, marking the beginning of her journey as a “previvor.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/previvors-cancer-genetic-testing-1.6817017