The Survivor

I first met Analyn at UBC Hospital, right before going in to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. 
Analyn has tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. About 1.3% of women in the general population will develop ovarian cancer at some point in their lives. When you have a BRCA1 gene mutation the risk goes up to 44% that you will develop ovarian cancer by the age of 80. 
She opted to have this preventative surgery, as well as opting to have a double mastectomy vs just removing the one cancerous breast, given her history with cancer and the type of breast cancer she was diagnosed with (Triple Negative Breast Cancer).

It was clear from her interactions with care providers that this wasn't her first rodeo.
She had no issues advocating for herself. Years of being in and out of hospitals and treatments will do that to a person.
It's not a hat that Analyn wants to wear, but, she wasn't left with a choice in the matter.
​That's the thing with cancer - it doesn't give you a choice -when you're fighting for your life - it forces you to be a survivor.