Learning my body was likely to betray me, the next choice was obvious but not easy

Taryn Stenvei’s mother, Kerrie, holding her as a newborn and her brother Joshua. It’s been almost three years since Stenvei discovered she carries the hereditary BCRA1 gene mutation that makes her more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer. Photograph: Supplied

My mother was 42 when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, commonly regarded as one of the worst types due to its aggression and difficulty to treat.

I was 12 years old, in my first tender and tumultuous year of high school. My parents largely shielded me from the reality of her disease, but I now know that she was terrified and overwhelmed. She was desperate to remain here with us. Desperate for her treatment – a burdensome blend of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery – to work. Thankfully, it did. Passing years brought a string of clear mammograms and our family’s swell of shock and trauma quietly retreated.