Interview by Jessie C

Special contribution this month of October. It’s breast cancer awareness and this first segment for this month for Dream Warriors will feature a strong woman who got herself checked. She is decided to increase her chances and get more at life after being tested positive for BRCA 2. We are thankful for having her a part of our blog. We are here every Wednesday on the website Stereotypeco.com. Staten Island’s own Samantha Mellone. 

Thank you for taking your time out for this interview.

Going to go straight in with the questions

What are some of your dreams?

My dreams are to become a pediatric nurse & helping people with cancer. 

You have lots of history with cancer being around you or your family?

Yes unfortunately cancer has ripped through my family. My brother and father are both thyroid cancer survivors. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and my aunt Theresa unfortunately lost her fight with breast cancer. 

What are some things you’d like to partake in?

I’d like to partake in raising breast cancer awareness & fundraising.

That sounds very helpful and noble, I’m sure there’s plenty of people that need as much support as possible.

Do you consider yourself a strong person ?

I definitely consider myself a strong woman.

Is there anything that became a major turning point in your life?

In October 2016 I received the news from my genetic counselor that I am BRCA 2 positive. It left me with the decision to either live life being considered high risk for breast cancer or to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce my risk from 95% to about 2%. I chose to undergo a double mastectomy in December 2017.

Wow, that’s very heart breaking, what was the ultimate decision maker of your surgery? I’m sure as a female, changing your appearance so drastically was such a burden on your shoulders. 

What advice did you want to give someone going through what you went through?

I want young women to know about this genetic testing it could possibly save someone’s life, I want the women who did get the testing done and tested positive to know that there is no right or wrong decision & the decision to have a double mastectomy is a very tough one and it’s a very rough process physically and mentally but you are not alone, don’t be afraid to reach out to people who have gone through it, it makes things a little easier. 

What makes it easier ? What motivates you to continue to go strong?

All I have been through and everyday looking at my amazing kids makes me fight harder and makes me want to continue to go after my dreams, I want them to have a great life & I never want them to have to recover from their childhood.

That’s very important, the environment the children is around plays a major role in their life choices etc.

Well that completes October’s first week segment of DreamWarrior. I thank you for tour time my dear. Be sure to check us out next week. 

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