Tracy Hutchinson, a 50-year-old executive assistant from Sydney, Australia, carries a genetic mutation that ensures she will develop cancer somewhere in her body. This diagnosis comes after a lifetime of watching her family battle the disease, with her sister Rebecca dying of leukemia at age 25 and her mother Jan succumbing to breast and esophageal cancer.
Hutchinson learned she has Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare inherited condition caused by a mutation in the TP53 gene, which typically acts as a tumor suppressor. The condition means she has a 100% lifetime risk of developing cancer.
A Family History of Cancer
The Hutchinson family's struggles with cancer began in the 1980s when Tracy's maternal grandmother was diagnosed. Shortly after, Tracy's sister Rebecca, then 21, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Tracy, then 14, remembers her sister's grueling treatment, which included a bone marrow transplant from Tracy herself.
Rebecca's cancer relapsed, and she died at age 25. Around the same time, Tracy's mother, Jan, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Jan underwent a mastectomy and treatment. Two years later, her cancer returned, and she was diagnosed with cancer in her other breast, undergoing further treatment and facing complications.
Years later, Jan was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Despite surgery and chemotherapy, the cancer metastasized, and she died at age 63. Tracy was by her mother's side during her final weeks.
The Li-Fraumeni Diagnosis
In 2020, Tracy's sister Sally was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. When Sally tested negative for BRCA mutations, doctors suggested Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Tracy also underwent testing and was diagnosed with the same mutation.
"I finally had an explanation for Rebecca fighting, then mum fighting and now Sally fighting. The jigsaw came together," Hutchinson said. Despite the grim prognosis, she described feeling a sense of peace with the explanation for her family's suffering.
A "Previver" of Cancer
Following her diagnosis, Hutchinson underwent a preventative double mastectomy in 2022. Two early forms of breast cancer were found in the removed tissue. She now identifies as a "previver" rather than a survivor, having made proactive decisions about her health.
Hutchinson and her sister Sally undergo annual whole-body MRIs and other regular screenings in hopes of detecting any future cancers early. In 2022, a benign brain tumor was found and is being monitored.
Despite the constant awareness of her increased cancer risk, Hutchinson finds appreciation for life's moments. She lives more deliberately, cherishes friendships, maintains a gym routine, and is even considering training as a death doula. She aims to raise awareness about Li-Fraumeni syndrome and support others affected by it, emphasizing the importance of living in the present.