Dawn Murphy

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. Your support and encouragement mean so much to me, almost as good as a warm hug!

This journey of mine started many years ago as I watched my mom battle breast cancer in her early 40s when I was a freshman in college and then struggled as I watched my aunt, my mom’s sister, battle for three years before losing the fight to ovarian cancer. With the strong family history I had genetic testing done over 10 years ago and have been living with the knowledge that I carry the BRCA gene putting me at high risk for cancer myself. My younger sister faced the challenge about 3 years ago and my mom once again battled more breast cancer just two years ago. They are doing fine and remind me that we are all very strong women.

Every time I had my mammogram or MRI I always thought is it going to be my turn. Well, this year it was. October 28, 2020 I had a mammogram with a suspicious calcification which after biopsy proved to be an early cancer. Fortunately all the close monitoring did its job and this was caught very very early. With my high risk factors Eric and I decided the most prudent course of action would be a double mastectomy. The emotional roller coaster of the past 6 weeks is something I don’t want to go through again. I also don’t want to tempt fate that any future cancer might not be found as early or as un-aggressive as what I have now.

So, I’m ready to fight my fight and once again prove how tough the Murphy women are. My surgery is scheduled for Monday December 14th at 12:50.

Please know that all your thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than you could know.

Dawn