Every October, we recognize the importance of raising awareness of breast cancer. For those affected by it, and all other cancers, it becomes personal.

One North Country woman decided she would bare her soul as a way to honor her father and connect with others around the world facing the same battles.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Jessica Phinney has a rate BRCA 2 Gene Mutation with increases her chances of many forms of cancer

  • Jessica went ahead with a masectomy to help prevent her chances of contracting breast cancer

  • She took part in a Maxim Magazine photo contest, where she was able to not only finish in the top one percent of entries, but help raise awareness on breast and hereditary cancers

Cancer has been an unfortunate part of Jessica Phinney's family history. Earlier this year, a 15-year battle took her father Larry, and because of COVID-19, a proper goodbye still has not happened. Jessica says it has left her unable to truly grieve, but one lesson he gave her before he passed, she has taken to heart.

"Phinney's are tough," Jessica said. "You're tough. Wear those scars like a badge. You don't hide them."

It's because of him she is sharing her story with the world. She created a blog, which is a journey of her life, hobbies, and her battles, including inheriting the rare BRCA 2 gene mutation, which leads to an even further enhanced likelihood of not only breast or ovarian cancer, but almost all cancers. It was a discovery that led her to make a difficult choice.

"As soon as I found out, I knew right away that I was going to a mastectomy. I just knew it, even before the test results came back," Phinney said.

It was also her father's words that led to Jessica creating an Instagram page, a way to continue to share stories, but also photographs. Her way to show that beauty, in all forms, should be shared and celebrated.

''For me, it's 'hey, let's not be so ashamed of our scars. Let's wear them as badges like my father did,’" Jessica added.

Recently, she took it even further. Upon seeing an ad for a contest to be on the cover of Maxim Magazine in Australia, she submitted photos, and out of nearly 8,000 entries, finished in the top one percent.

Perhaps more importantly, she was able to share her story to a much wider audience, at a time so many need to hear they aren't alone.

"Just to be able to get my message out there to so many people, literally the world, all the way to Australia, is just huge," Phinny said.

Now Jessica's battle is not over. More preventative surgeries are in the future, including the likelihood of ovary removal.

She also has a six-year-old daughter she worries about. However, these are fights she will not face alone, with both family by her side, and the millions of others she's connected with, shared her scars with.