Adam Walker: [00:00:00] From Susan G Komen, this is Real Pink, a podcast exploring real stories, struggles, and triumphs related to breast cancer. We’re taking the conversation from the doctor’s office to your living room.
Just before her 38th birthday, Lauren Yerkes learned she had breast cancer. Genetic testing would reveal she had the BRCA2 inherited gene mutation that put her at higher risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancers. Her experience made her want to educate people about inherited genetic mutations because she had no idea at the time she was at risk.
Lauren’s here today to share her story, the preventative measures she’s taken for her health, and how she’s giving back to the breast cancer community. Lauren, welcome to the show.
Lauren Yerkes: Hi Adam. Thanks so much for having me. I’m so honored to be here and to share my journey and what I’ve been through, so thank you.
I appreciate it.
Adam Walker: Well, I’m glad to have you. Let’s start with your [00:01:00] journey. So you were young at the time, you know, younger than is typically diagnosed, no family history. How was it that you found your, like, found that you had breast cancer?
Lauren Yerkes: Yeah, so correct. I was diagnosed three days before my 38th birthday in 2022.
And you know, it was April 2022 and about four or five months prior to that I had felt a lump. You know, I had just taken a shower and it was like, this is new. I, I don’t remember this. Two months prior to that, I had been to my OB GYN for an annual physical and everything was clear. So it was kind of out of the blue that something popped up.
And I immediately ran down the stairs to my husband. I was like, can you just, am I going crazy? What is this? I can feel something. And he’s like, let’s, let’s call the doctor. So what We called and they had me come in right away. And I get there and the doctor tells me, you know, I just saw you. You have no family history [00:02:00] and you’re not 40 yet.
So there’s nothing to worry about. And she goes, but let’s just send you for a mammogram. Just, just to be sure. Okay. Okay. So great. You know, I’m like, okay, this is good. So I go to the mammogram. And a few days later they called and they say everything is clear. Okay, come back when you’re 40 or if you notice any change in your body.
And so like, okay, I’m gonna go on my merry way. I’m good a few months later. So March, 2022 one morning I woke up, I was wearing a white t-shirt and I noticed there were yellow stains on my shirt. And I was like, this is weird. Did I eat something? And was a slop last night? Like I didn’t know what had happened, right?
Yeah. I jumped in the shower and again, I realize I have a discharge from my nipple. And so I was like, okay, this is not normal. Like I don’t have children, I had, you know, so we go back to the doctor and [00:03:00] again, I get the same story. You’re not 40 yet and you have no family history. We just did a mammogram. I don’t think there’s anything there.
So. We’re gonna schedule you for an ultrasound. So I go for an ultrasound and the radiologist comes in and he’s like, okay, we don’t see anything on an ultrasound. And you know, I can feel that something like, feel something is there. I can feel what you’re feeling.
Adam Walker: Yeah.
Lauren Yerkes: And he’s like, it feels like a hard, you know, like your knuckle.
I was like, yes. That’s what I feel. And when I touch it, it’s kind of a little painful. So again, same story. You’re not 40 no family history. And so he goes, let’s send you for a biopsy just to make sure. So I go for a biopsy. It was actually April Fool’s Day in 2022. So it’s like, okay, is this a joke that I’m doing this?
Adam Walker: That’s terrible. Yeah.
Lauren Yerkes: And a week later, so April 7th 2022, I’ll never forget the call. The radiologist [00:04:00] calls and tells me you have breast cancer. It’s invasive ductal carcinoma. And you know, I didn’t know anybody that had cancer and I broke down and it was very emotional and scary and yeah, so that’s really started that day.
It started my journey of where I’m at at this point. So,
Adam Walker: I mean, I, what, so what’s interesting to me about your story is like, like each doctor. Kind of said, oh, you’re under 40, you have nothing to worry about, but let’s run the next test anyway. So it’s like, like on the one hand, like when you said that like, my, my heart sank, you know, because they, because a lot of times doctors will be dismissive of, of women that are under 40.
But they still, even though they were being dismissive, ran the next test, which is kind of great, I guess. Yeah, actually, right? Yeah. So I mean, like, I mean that’s, I mean, I guess that that’s the right way to approach it is like, well it’s probably okay, but. Let’s be extra sure and run the next test.
Yes. So,
Lauren Yerkes: yeah, and I’m thankful for that. Yeah.
Adam Walker: So good. So, so what [00:05:00] about your story made your doctors encourage you to undergo genetic testing? Like how did that become a part of your story?
Lauren Yerkes: Yeah. So the first visit that I saw once I found out I was diagnosed was with a breast surgeon. And I go into the appointment and, you know, they give you an overall spiel of here’s what
puts you at risk for breast cancer. You know, you’re over 40 or you have a family history. And one of the questions she asked me was are you of Ashkenazi Jewish descent? And I honestly, at 38, at that point, I had never heard of the term Ashkenazi Jew. Right? Yeah. I was raised Jewish. I, it’s all in my family history and I looked at her and I just said, well, I’m Jewish, but I don’t know if I’m an Ashkenazi Jew.
And. I was with my husband in the appointment and I said, can I text my mom? Like I wanna know if [00:06:00] this is great.
Adam Walker: Yeah, let’s find out right now. Yeah,
Lauren Yerkes: exactly. And she’s like, of course. So I text my mom, my mom replies right away and says, yes, we are Ashkenazi Jew. So I, I tell my surgeon and she goes, okay, so your first risk factor in getting breast cancer is being a woman.
Okay, well check. I hit that box. And then, you know, the second was outside of family history and other, you know, gene. Genetic pools that you make up. Was this Ashkenazi Jewish descent and she tells me that one in 40 Ashkenazi Jews will carry a BRCA mutation, whether it’s BRCA1 or BRCA2, and she says the average population, it’s usually one in 200 people.
So I’m like, okay, first of all, I’m a woman, so there’s my first hit, and second, I’m an Ashkenazi Jew. So
yeah,
to me, that was my first interaction with genetic [00:07:00] testing. And so she goes, okay, we’re gonna do a simple blood draw. It was very easy. She did it in the office and we’ll have the results in about three weeks.
But what was so interesting about finding out if I carried BRCA1 or BRCA2 was that that was going to set up my treatment plan and my surgery plans and the options that were suggested for me because as a carrier, it helped to guide what they needed to do to treat the cancer.
Adam Walker: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I, I don’t know if I quite thought of it in those terms, but that makes a lot of sense.
That you would get, like the treatment would be factored in based on your genetic testing. So, yeah. So like what, like how, I mean, how do you respond to that? Like what, like what did, what were your, like, what did you think, what were you feeling, like, what was your reaction to did when you found out that you have the BRCA mutation?
Like, how are you feeling?
Lauren Yerkes: You know, it’s, it’s a, I honestly, I think I didn’t really know how to feel. I, at [00:08:00] that point I already had cancer and that was like, what rocked me the most. Right. Yeah. And so to just be like, Hey, now you have, I was BRCA2, so I have BRCA2. Yeah. She’s like, now you have, you know,
this genetic mutation. And in my head it was like, okay, well that’s the reason why I got cancer, you know? Like, yeah, you have an over 80% chance of getting breast cancer when you have a BRCA2 mutation. So it was like, all right, well, I’m a woman and I have BRCA2, and now I have this genetic mutation.
So I, I think when she first told me, I was like, okay, great. I just need to get through treatment and then I can figure out what this means and.. So as I kind of let it settle and started to read into it a little bit more and understand what it meant I kind of felt empowered a little bit. I felt like, wow, I have this gene.
I can’t prevent it from happening. There was nothing I could [00:09:00] do. There’s a 50 50 chance that you’re gonna get it from a parent if they have it. And so it was just the luck of the draw and I got it. And so how can I take control of a situation where I’ve already lost control. You know, cancer doesn’t give you any control, and so this was a way to take control of a small portion of my journey and learn about it and figure out how I was going to save my life and live a long life.
So that’s kind of how I approached it. But you know, it. It didn’t really hit me until a little bit later that this was something that is a big deal, you know?
Adam Walker: Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. I mean, it, it, it affects, I mean, a lot of things, right? A lot of mean in, in fact, I mean, like, so like what decisions have you made about your health to help decrease your risk knowing that you’ve got this genetic mutation?
I [00:10:00] mean, have you made any specific decisions about it?
Lauren Yerkes: Yeah. Yeah. So like I said, you know, the finding out if I had this BRCA mutation was really important for treatment, but also for surgery plans. So once I had finished treatment you know, the plan for me to reduce recurrence was to have a double mastectomy.
So that was the first check the box in terms of risk reduction. After that there was other, you know, there’s other types of cancers that can form when you carry a BRCA2 mutation. And so the doctor kind of advised me, you should think about having a hysterectomy before you turn 45. And so I was like, okay.
Lauren Yerkes: I know that’s like a little bit long term planning, but I’ll think about that.
After I finished treatment and surgeries. I had double mastectomy and then I had reconstructive surgery. [00:11:00] I was about, I don’t know, 16, 18 months past diagnosis. Right. And I said to my husband, what am I, why am I waiting till I’m 45? Like, you know, I was supposed to get breast cancer after the age of 40, but. Look what happened to me.
Yeah. So why don’t I just do this and I can move past the fear of something popping up. So I ended up having a preventative hysterectomy at 39. I was already in menopause from chemo, so Might as well just,
Adam Walker: yeah. I mean,
Lauren Yerkes: you know, finish it off. Yeah. Knock
Adam Walker: it all out. Yeah. Right. Exactly. Yeah.
Lauren Yerkes: And so I ended up having it to prevent ovarian cancer. You know, on top of preventing ovarian cancer, I’ve already prevented, you know, everything I could to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer. There’s pancreatic cancer to, to worry about. There’s skin cancer to worry about. So those are things that I’m constantly [00:12:00] getting monitored and I have special for, you know, every area.
Yeah. But you know, I feel like I’ve done everything I can to reduce cancer at this point.
Adam Walker: And that’s the goal. That’s what you’re doing. You’re doing, you’re taking the right steps. That’s the goal. Right. That’s why we, that’s why we talk about genetic testing. Exactly. So you have that opportunity. Right.
Exactly. You, you can make, you can proactively make the choices that are best for you. Right. Exactly. You just Exactly. It gives you the options that you would otherwise not have. Yeah. So, so I understand after your diagnosis, several members of your family also had genetic testing done. What were the results for the rest of your family?
Lauren Yerkes: Yeah, after my diagnosis you know, my surgeon advised that other family members get tested and so because the Ashkenazi lineage comes from my mother, my mom’s side we, she was the first to test. And my sister was also tested. [00:13:00] My sister luckily was negative which is great. And then my mom, we found out she’s the carrier.
So from there. My grandmother who’s still alive, she was tested. She was negative. We learned my, I mean, at that point it was my grandfather. He had passed in 2019, so we knew it stemmed from him. And then my mom’s two brothers, so my uncles were also tested and one brother came back positive. So he has BRCA2 and his two children who are 19 and 21 will get tested when they turn 25.
And so my uncle is on preventative screening. He goes, you know, for breast cancer screening. He goes for prostate cancer screening. And then my mom prophylactically had a double mastectomy as well as hysterectomy after my diagnosis. So our family has gone through, [00:14:00] you know, quite a few preventative surgeries as much as possible to you know, prevent cancer from forming.
But, you know, even extended family who isn’t direct bloodlines to me. They’ve also, preventively had surgeries too. So I, my uncle tells me a lot, he, he is like, you’re my hero. You, you know, you’ve, you’ve saved my life and you’ve potentially, you know, helped my children. And so, yeah, that’s right. It’s a really big honor.
And you know, as crappy. I dunno if I can say that, but is
Adam Walker: It’s real. It’s real. Say it, say it. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah.
Lauren Yerkes: You know, it’s, when you find out you have a mutation, it gives you a lot of power
Adam Walker: and control. Yeah. So, well, and a lot of options. Right. You, you know, you know what the options are and you can choose the ones that work for you, you know?
Yeah, absolutely. So, so I know you’re passionate about educating others about inherited genetic mutations, like, I mean. I [00:15:00] think you’ve already alluded to why that is, but I’d love for you to just talk a little bit more about it.
Lauren Yerkes: Yeah, no, I have, I, you know, I, knowledge is power they say, right? And I, had I known that I carried BRCA2 years ago.
I could have been on pre-screening, I could have had preventative surgeries. I could have prevented cancer from forming. And you know, I did everything by the book. They say, you know, I ate healthy, I exercised, I got enough sleep, I tried to reduce stress. And then here you go, I get cancer. And if I had known that, you know, one of my biggest risk risk factors was, was carrying this mutation.
There’s so much I could have done and that’s why I talk about it with people and I.. Can you get genetic testing or you know, what are, what are your options? Like, [00:16:00] just to know that you have, that is huge. And you know, like I said, I to have control of cancer. It didn’t exist when you’re diagnosed.
But to have control of your health and to have control, if you know that you carry this, that’s like life. That’s lifesaving, you know? Yeah. And that’s, I I wanna live a long life. I wanna be here a while.
Adam Walker: Yeah, that’s right. That’s right. And that’s why we’re talking about it so that other people can do the same and, and be inspired to do the same.
So. Absolutely. Speaking of inspired, you know, I understand you found another way to give back to the breast cancer community. Young women who are diagnosed tell us what you have in the works and how it came about and the special timing surrounding the launch.
Lauren Yerkes: Yes, yes. I’m so excited for this. So I, just a little bit of background.
I’ve been in the fashion industry since I was about 21, so almost 20 years. I was a buyer, a merchandiser and last July, so July, 2024. I [00:17:00] resigned from my role as Chief Merchandising Officer for an e-commerce retailer called Revolve. July 2023 my husband and I had taken our first trip to Hawaii after treatment.
It was a big celebration and I was trying on bathing suits and I had had surgeries and all these new scars, and I was still trying to get comfortable and confident with the new Lauren. Like I didn’t recognize her. So I was kind of complaining to him about the swimsuits I was trying on and how they just didn’t make me feel comfortable.
And he looks at me and he says, well, why didn’t you do something about it? And I was like. Okay. Maybe I will.
Adam Walker: That’s the entrepreneur’s line right there. Why don’t you do something about it?
Lauren Yerkes: Exactly. Yeah. So I started working on a swim brand for breast cancer survivors. The focus is around scar coverage.
I have a lot of [00:18:00] new scars that you know, I’m really proud of and I obviously wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t proud and talking about it. Yeah. But you know, the thing that I. Often say, when I talk about this brand is sometimes like, you don’t want the world to, to see your story before you have the opportunity to share it.
That’s right. Yeah. And so I want, you know, it goes back to that word of control. I wanna share my story. In my time and I’m in my way. And so that is what I’m creating. It’s a swim brand. It’s called post Swim. So post-treatment, post-surgery. And you know, I’ve done a, I’ve talked to surgeons about where scars can hit depending on what type of surgery you’ve had or what, where your cancer was.
And so, you know, bands are longer to cover scars or chops are higher. I have implant rippling. And so it’s like, it’s gonna cover that. And, you know, it’s a [00:19:00] blend of my career and fashion, but it’s also a blend of my cancer journey. Wow.
Adam Walker: And
Lauren Yerkes: so that’s what I’m doing. We launched on April 7th. You know..
Adam Walker: How exciting!
Lauren Yerkes: Yes. And that date’s really personal to me. Yeah. It, it was my diagnosis date and so, you know, I’m celebrating three years of survivorship, but also the launch of Posts Swim, so I’m, I love that. Really excited.
Adam Walker: Oh, it’s so good. That’s so great then. Thank you. Well, and so I gotta ask them, in your launch, tell me your launch date again.
Lauren Yerkes: April 7th we launch.
Adam Walker: And the web, the website is what?
Lauren Yerkes: It’s post swim.com, and then we have our Instagram at it’s post swim official. So really excited.
Adam Walker: That’s so good. So thank you. Exciting. Thank you. Wow. I love that. Thank you. Well, last question and then we’ll, we’ll wrap up, but but man, I’m still very pumped about your new venture here.
[00:20:00]
You’ve been through a lot. You’ve advocated for yourself, you’ve taken preventative measures, you’ve taken control of your health in a very meaningful way, just like we talked about. Like, it enables you to take control of your health in a way that works for you. This is a, an amazing story and I really appreciate you sharing it.
What final piece of advice would you have for listeners that you have learned along the way?
Lauren Yerkes: I tell people this all the time and it, my biggest advice is to find gratitude in the journey. You know, it’s.. There’s days where when you’re going through treatment especially, and they’re long days and everyone’s life is moving around and you’re just like, why is time going so slow?
But what I would often do is I’d wake up in the morning and I still do it to this day, and I just, Hello world, like I’m alive. Like, and it sounds so cliche and I know people say it, but it is really the truth. And I think if you can find gratitude in waking up in the morning, [00:21:00] or if you’re really, you know, struggling with treatment and you ate a piece of pizza, like how exciting, like you gotta eat something today.
And so I think. While you’re in it, if you can find those pieces. But then afterwards, I can’t even tell you, I am just so grateful to be alive, but I’m grateful to the doctors, the nurses, the research, the treatments my husband, my family, like it’s just, it’s, it puts you into a new perspective in life and you become very appreciative.
So yeah, it’s a, it’s a very important and powerful, powerful word. I got it tattooed on my arm afterwards because I want to remind myself you know, that I am very grateful to.
Adam Walker: Gratefulness is I mean, like you said, it’s powerful and, and if you sit down and just write down the five things,
it could change your whole perspective in a minute. Yes. So
yes, it’s amazing. Yes, Lauren, your story’s [00:22:00] fantastic. Your advocacy, your approach, your, your bias to action and your new brand new swim brand is amazing. Thank you. Has been great. Thank you for joining us on the show today.
Lauren Yerkes: Thanks so much for having me.
Adam, it was great, great chatting with you.
Adam Walker: Thanks for listening to Real Pink, a weekly podcast by Susan G Komen. For more episodes, visit real pink.komen.org. And for more on breast cancer, visit komen.org. Make sure to check out at Susan G Komen on social media. I’m your host, Adam. You can find me on Twitter at AJ Walker or on my blog adam j walker.com.