Before Angelina: Portraits of Breast Cancer Previvors and Survivors

Sandy Cohen, age 45, Pennsylvania
Age 36 at time of surgery

"I grew up knowing cancer was in my future. My grandmother died of breast cancer before I was born, and although my mother tried chemo and special diets, she passed away when I was 26.

As I started to near my 40s, I decided it was time for me to get tested for the BRCA mutation. Even though I had prepared for it my whole life, I was stunned when they came back positive. There’s something about hearing that you have an 87% chance of getting breast cancer and a 50% of getting ovarian cancer that you can never prepare for.

At that point, I decided I needed to do what my mother and grandmother hadn’t: get a double mastectomy. I felt lucky I had that choice. When I told family and friends about my decision, half told me I was extremely brave, and the other half thought I was nuts. But BRCA wasn’t really in the news yet. Angelina Jolie had not come forward about her experience. Even if other people did not understand, I needed to undergo the procedure. I thought about my kids, and how I couldn't let cancer take me from them.

My mother was so quiet about her cancer experience, which is why I speak out. I will continue to be strong for my kids because I want them to be brave, too."