When cancer strikes generation after generation, it can feel like fate. But for one Rockland County family, the story didn’t end with fear — it turned into empowerment. After losing loved ones to cancer, three generations of women made a bold decision: to confront their genetic risk head-on and take control of their futures.
For 72-year-old Teresa Grenier, the journey began with loss. Her mother died of ovarian cancer in 1980. Later, both her sister and grandmother battled breast cancer. “Unfortunately, cancer was a household word in my family,” Teresa recalls. “You feel like a soldier — trained to do battle.” When genetic testing became available in the late 1990s, Teresa and her brother discovered they carried the BRCA1 mutation, which dramatically increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Armed with that knowledge, Teresa made a life-changing decision. At age 46, she underwent prophylactic surgery to remove her ovaries. To her surprise, pathology revealed early-stage ovarian cancer — a discovery that may have saved her life. Years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a bilateral mastectomy. Her courage and proactive choices inspired the next generation to follow in her footsteps.
Her niece, Janet, learned she carried the same BRCA1 mutation after testing at age 29. Motivated by her aunt and father’s experiences, Janet decided she wouldn’t wait for cancer to come to her. After becoming a mother, she chose to undergo a series of preventive surgeries — first removing her ovaries in 2011, then having a prophylactic mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction in 2013. “My goal was to be here to raise my children,” Janet says. “And I’ve achieved that.”
That example of strength deeply influenced her daughter, Emma, who chose to get tested at just 21 years old. “When I tested positive, I knew right away I was going to have a prophylactic mastectomy,” she shares. “I have a lot of life to live, and I didn’t want that risk hanging over my head.” Her decision — both mature and courageous — reflects a new generation’s approach to hereditary cancer prevention: informed, empowered, and proactive.
Each of these women found their way to Dr. Mark Smith of the Northwell Cancer Institute, who guided them through their breast reconstructive surgeries. “From Teresa to Janet to Emma, each generation has had more access, more options, and better care,” Dr. Smith notes. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see how far treatment and reconstruction have come.” He points to major advances in surgical techniques, from improved implant options to state-of-the-art tissue reconstruction, all leading to faster recoveries and better quality of life.
Today, there are also non-surgical options for BRCA mutation carriers, including medications that can help lower risk or delay cancer onset. But for this family, taking a surgical path provided peace of mind — and a renewed sense of control. Their shared story is one of resilience and empowerment: transforming fear into informed action and creating a legacy of survival rather than loss.
Beyond their medical journeys, each woman has found a purpose in helping others. Teresa continues to care for her family with grace and humor. Janet now works alongside Dr. Smith to support other patients facing similar choices. And Emma, inspired by her family’s experience, is studying to become a nurse. Together, they represent the best of what it means to take a family’s history — and rewrite its future.
Their story reminds us that knowledge truly is power. Through genetic testing, proactive care, and support from experts like those at the Northwell Cancer Institute, families at risk can change the course of their lives. As Teresa says, “We have our survivors and our previvors — and we’re lucky in so many ways.”
