Krista Brown
“My cancer was caught early because I knew my risk through genetic testing. If it weren’t for research, my story would have ended a lot differently.”
The first thought that entered Krista Brown’s mind when she was diagnosed with an early but aggressive Stage 1A breast cancer was, “‘How is this happening?’ I had recently lost my mom to breast cancer, and I did everything in my power to lower my risk.” Before her passing, Krista’s mom underwent genetic testing and learned that she was positive for a mutation in the ATM gene, which meant Krista had a 50% chance of inheriting that mutation. Krista’s own testing confirmed she was a carrier, which not only meant she was at increased risk of breast cancer, but also pancreatic and ovarian cancer. When she was just two weeks away from a preventive mastectomy, Krista happened to receive her diagnosis after a breast MRI and follow-up testing: “In that moment, I needed someone to tell me I hadn’t failed. In fact, my choice to pursue genetic testing and learn my risk is what ultimately saved my life. It’s the reason my diagnosis was made at an early, more treatable stage.”
Krista’s surgery proceeded, and she kept her spirits up with a mantra that she’d repeat in her most difficult moments. “After my mastectomy when I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself — if I was struggling emotionally, if I was in pain, or whatever the situation was that day — I would say, ‘It’s not forever, it’s just for now.’” She re-evaluated her priorities and sought to connect more deeply with friends, family, and even strangers: “I allowed myself to say ‘yes’ to things I normally wouldn’t have. I chose to step into discomfort and grow.” Throughout her journey, Krista says her husband was her rock. “He listened as I processed every decision out loud, over and over,” she said. “He pulled my weight when I couldn’t and supported every single choice that I made, no matter what.”
In one of the biggest life-changing aspects of Krista’s cancer journey, she leaned heavily into education and made the decision in her nursing career to shift to becoming an oncology nurse. “I get to work with newly diagnosed cancer patients every day and support them in their most difficult moments,” she said. “I also started volunteering with hereditary cancer organizations and now, looking back, I can see how I found my purpose in my hardest moments.” Krista ultimately even returned to school to get a master’s degree in medical nutrition with a focus on cancer prevention: “Cancer helped me turn my fear into action and my moments of uncertainty into empowerment.”
Today, Krista stands up for her mom, for those who don’t yet know that genetic testing may be an option for them, and “for my three little girls — because knowing our genetic risk has changed the trajectory of all our lives and every generation in our family from this point forward.”
Krista hopes that her story of early detection underlines the immense value of cancer research and genetic testing. “Without decades of research, I never would have had the choice to pursue genetic testing and learn that I carried a high-risk mutation — which means I never would have known to take preventive steps,” she says. “Cancer research doesn’t just lead to new treatments; it gives families answers, options, and hope.”
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Stand Up To Cancer raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients. Find out how you can get involved.
