“Knowledge is power and I really do believe that Life has saved my life – without identifying the gene it would have gone completely unnoticed until I also received a cancer diagnosis.”
Life is celebrating its 25th birthday this year! Over the past quarter-century, it has made a lasting impact – from babies born through groundbreaking fertility treatments to patients benefitting from pioneering research and clinical care. And, of course, the science centre has inspired and entertained thousands of families, school groups, and adults.
As we mark this milestone, we’re sharing stories from those whose lives have been shaped by Life.
Abbie Yorke, a 32-year-old mum from County Durham, had long suspected that she could be genetically predisposed to cancer.
Both Abbie’s grandma and auntie had been diagnosed with breast cancer but it was her mum’s ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2022 that steered Abbie towards a life-altering decision.
“I was convinced because of my family history that there must be a genetic link to cancer,” said Abbie “but I was told that I needed to have three family members diagnosed with cancer to be eligible for genetic testing.
“A few months later my mum was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer and I was contacted by the Centre for Life to be tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene.”
About one in 400 women in the UK carry the faulty version of either BRCA1 and BRCA2, both of which significantly increase the risk of breast or ovarian cancer.
Abbie added: “After being referred to Life I was immediately assigned a genetics counsellor to talk about options if the test was negative or positive and to answer any questions I had.
“When the results came back positive although it wasn’t a cancer diagnosis as such, it very much felt so at the time. But my genetics counsellor was so supportive.”
The genetics team at Life examined Abbie’s family history, calculated her cancer risk and discussed various options, ensuring Abbie never felt alone in her journey.
Faced with an 80% risk of developing breast cancer, Abbie decided she couldn’t live with the constant anxiety of annual scans and the waiting game for results.
Abbie added: “Thanks to Life I felt empowered with knowledge – it made me feel that I had a choice and gave me the confidence to make decisions. I couldn’t change what had happened, but I could control my future.”
After a year of fully researching options and talking to the team at Life, Abbie opted for a double mastectomy and was further supported to have the operation in June last year with a surgeon of her choice.
Abbie added: “He was one of the first surgeons in the UK to do preventative mastectomies and his research showed that after the operation, the chance of getting cancer is reduced to 1 to 2%.
“My genetics counsellor was a constant source of support throughout, giving me the reassurance and confidence to make my decisions.”
Abbie has now completed reconstructive surgery and continues to monitor her health, particularly concerning ovarian cancer, with ongoing support from the genetics team at Life. “It’s great to know that experts are there to provide information, support, and answer any questions I have,” she said.
“Life has helped me to have a privileged knowledge into my future and the ability to take preventative measures – something that my mum, aunt and grandma didn’t have.
“Knowledge is power and I really do believe that Life has saved my life – without identifying the gene it would have gone completely unnoticed until I also received a cancer diagnosis.”
Life is celebrating 25 years! We’ve been reminiscing about some of our favourite memories since we opened and would love to hear yours!
