A Sunshine Coast mother carrying the incredibly rare BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene mutations has beaten the odds by overcoming breast cancer twice

Cindy Scott is one in only 400 women with breast cancer who carries not only one mutated gene, but two.

Research from Breast Cancer Network Australia has found that abnormalities in the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene occur in only 0.2 per cent of Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer.

“My geneticists and medical team have never met anyone who carries both,” said Ms Scott.

“BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are genes that help protect against cancer, but when they are mutated, they pose an increased risk for not only breast cancer but also ovarian and fallopian tube cancer.”

On average, a woman with either of these gene mutations has a seven in 10 chance of a breast cancer diagnosis by the age of 80.

“Angelina Jolie has just one of the mutations, and had a double mastectomy,” said Ms Scott.

“Finding out I had both came as quite a shock and I wondered if I was doubly doomed carrying both.”

In Ms Scott’s research, she discovered that genes are not a pre-determinant of our fate.

“According to Stem Cell Biologist, Bruce Lipton Ph.D., there are mounting volumes of research demonstrating just how connected the mind, body and spirit are,” said Ms Scott.

“It is widely recognised that genes and DNA do not control our biology.

“Instead, they are controlled by signals outside our cells, including energetic messages emanating from our thoughts.”

Having worked as a qualified and highly-experienced master executive coach for over 10 years, this latest research gave Ms Scott permission to take control of her healing journey, and gave her a great deal of hope and inspiration in her darkest hours.

Ms Scott believes that by transforming conscious and subconscious thoughts, women can activate the healing process, and thereby transform their health.

“I believed my medical team would take care of the physical aspects of my treatment but I was determined to change my thoughts to enhance my chance for a full recovery ,” said Ms Scott.

This monumental shift in focus led Ms Scott to prioritise bringing calm to her overloaded immune system, exploring and changing her beliefs and healing toxic emotions as she believed these were just as important as removing rogue cancer cells from her body in order to heal fully.

“The cancer journey is just as challenging psychologically and emotionally as it is physically but our mindset and emotional landscape are rarely given the attention they deserve during treatment.

“As we focus on the physical, we often forget one of the most important things – where the mind goes, the body will follow.”

With that aim, Ms Scott began to journal as a way of supporting her very emotional self.

Her journal entries included details of the many complementary therapies, mindfulness practices and counselling insights she undertook to heal from the inside too. She shares openly what worked for her, and how they affected her overall wellbeing.

It was only upon her friend’s suggestion that she realised her journal entries might help others going through a similar experience, and hence The Healing Journal was born – a collection of writings and tools Cindy used to help heal her body, mind and soul from cancer.

“It’s the book I wish I had received when I was diagnosed – it’s like a big hug when you need it most,” said Ms Scott.

“Receiving a diagnosis and facing the journey ahead is like walking down a dark corridor, not knowing where you’re going or how long it will last. It’s a terrifying time and one that left me feeling really disempowered, uncertain and alone.

“I’m a strong, go-getter type and the loss of my independence and decision-making power made matters worse until I claimed back control of my healing. The Healing Journal aims to provide support during the psycho-emotional upheaval a cancer diagnosis brings and help the reader to take back control of their treatment journey.”

To find out more, visit www.healingjournal.co. Ms Scott has partnered with the McGrath Foundation and the National Breast Cancer Foundation with a percentage of all book sales going toward supporting women navigating cancer.