Harriet Jefferies was diagnosed with Triple Negative breast cancer in March 2013 at just 35 years old and less than 2-months after giving birth to her second wonderful baby girl.
Harriet was breast feeding when she discovered the lump. It took 4-weeks of appointments with several different medical professionals before the lump was correctly diagnosed as cancer; by then the cancer had already started to spread.
Harriet started chemotherapy treatment immediately, but her cancer was particularly aggressive and non-responsive to all of the chemo drugs used.
Notwithstanding her ill-fated hand in life, Harriet never complained, was exceptionally strong and positive, and remained a fantastic Mum throughout her illness until her passing on 10 December 2013.
Harriet was found to have inherited a BRCA 1 gene mutation. People of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, like Harriet, are approximately 10 times more likely to carry a mutation in one of the BRCA 1 or 2 genes than those in the general population. These mutations increase a person’s risk of developing breast cancer, often with an early onset – even in the 20’s or 30’s.
For Harriet, and her family, it was important that information about BRCA 1 and 2 is more accessible and better understood, so that more lives can be saved through early diagnosis and prevention.
In Harriet’s memory, her family have been and continue to raise funds to support work to improve awareness about BRCA in the Jewish community, and for cutting-edge medical research. Monies raised will be divided between Jnetics and Action Against Cancer to carry out for these two respective activities.
Jnetics feels privileged to receive this funding and is committed to working to improve BRCA understanding in the Jewish community through a project starting later this year.
If you are interested in adding your support to this important work please visit Harriet’s fundraising page by clicking http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Harriet and/or contact us at info@jnetics.org.