"Previvor"

“A previvor is a survivor of a predisposition to cancer or other genetically influenced diseases, but has not had the disease themselves” In 2015 Hollie’s sister Katie was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32. After discovering that two family members had also been diagnosed with the same type of cancer in their early 30’s, a series of gene tests revealed that Hollie, her father and her siblings are all carriers of an altered version of the “BRCA II” gene. This mutation meant a 45-85% chance of Hollie developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Because of this risk, and after witnessing her sisters fight with the disease, Hollie elected to have a preventative double mastectomy in July 2018. Through this portrait, we both hope to empower women affected by the disease, by showing joy, beauty, the retaining of femininity and a passion for life even in the face of cancer.