Positively Beautiful (38 page)

Another important note: Erin uses the figure of “up to 80 percent” to describe her lifetime risk of getting breast cancer. This is a fluid number that changes from case to case, but for now, it is a commonly used percentage, and the one that genetic counselors I interviewed were the most comfortable with.

Regardless of whether it is provided through a doctor's
office or through a direct-to-consumer company, genetic testing is here to stay. With courageous celebrities like Angelina Jolie, who openly talked about her BRCA mutation and her decision to undergo prophylactic surgery, more and more people are becoming aware of the role genes play in our health. As genetic testing becomes more common, it is inevitable that there will be serious implications for family members, including children, who will learn about their genetic propensities whether or not they wish to.

For people like Erin, I wonder where this will lead.

I would like to thank Mary Kate Castellani and Caroline Abbey for their invaluable editorial advice (you have no idea how
good
these chicks are), and the entire Bloomsbury team for making the words on my computer screen look so marvelous in print.

Two doctors, Gloria Morris, MD, PhD, from Mount Sinai Hospital, and Jessica Young, MD, from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, were extremely generous with their time and knowledge in helping me portray Erin's mother's breast cancer treatment as accurately as possible. If I were to ever have need of breast cancer treatment, I would be honored to call either one of these ladies my doctor. Any mistakes are mine alone.

Thank you to Mary Ann Orlang for kindly giving me a tour of the Lee Memorial Health System's Regional Cancer Center.

A big thank-you to Christine McElwain and Shelly Van Bulck for sharing their stories with me.

In addition to reading the plethora of excellent books on the subject, I also spent a lot of time on various BRCA websites and forums reading the heartbreaking stories of women dealing with the BRCA mutation. I am in awe of your strength and bravery. I would also like to thank the genetic counselors and experts with whom I spoke.

I've been flying with my stepdad, Chuck McClinton, since I was twelve years old, and I would like to send a big shout-out to him for being patient with my endless questions, some of them quite strident as my deadline neared. Thanks, Chuckie! It's not your fault if I got it wrong.

My portrayal of Erin's legal issues was guided by my questions to the FAA and the AOPA, as well as Atlanta aviation lawyer James S. Strawinski, who absolutely rocks. Again, any mistakes were either done in the name of literary license, or were simply my own dumb fault. (Let's go with literary license.)

The urban exploring parts were facilitated by my haunting of many urban exploring articles and sites (search “Atlanta urban exploring” and you'll see what I mean). The John B. Gordon School was slated for demolition the last time I checked, and I haven't been able to bring myself to find out if this has come to pass. The Excaps' method of entry into the abandoned buildings may or may not be accurate, and one of the buildings may or may not be alarmed. Be warned!

Thank you, Ashley Elston, for crying.

Mom and Aunt Joyce: thank you for being my extremely tolerant sounding boards and first readers. It would be so much harder without you.

To Eddie, Zack, and Gavin, the three loves of my life. Thanks for putting up with me, guys. I know it's not always easy.

Without Sarah Davies, my splendiferous agent, none of this would be possible. Thank you, Sarah, for helping me grow Erin's story to its full potential.

Copyright © 2015 by Wendy Mills

All rights reserved.
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce, or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means, (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

First published in the United States of America in March 2015
by Bloomsbury Children's Books
Electronic edition published in March 2015
www.bloomsbury.com

Bloomsbury is a registered trademark of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to
Permissions, Bloomsbury Children's Books, 1385 Broadway, New York, New York 10018

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mills, Wendy.
Positively beautiful / by Wendy Mills.
pages       cm
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Erin's life is fairly normal until she learns that her mother has breast cancer and she, too, may carry a mutated gene, so amid high school dramas including betrayal by her best friend, she must consider preemptive surgery to guarantee she will not be stricken.
[1.  Breast—Cancer—Fiction.   2.  Cancer—Fiction.   3.  Mothers and daughters—Fiction.   4.  High schools—Fiction.   5.  Schools—Fiction.   6.  Best friends—Fiction.   7.  Friendship—Fiction.   8.  Dating (Social customs)—Fiction.   9.  Single-parent families—Fiction.]   I.  Title.
PZ7.M639874Pos 2015              [Fic]—dc23              2014009929

eISBN: 978-1-61963-342-1

To find out more about our authors and books visit
www.bloomsbury.com
. Here you will find extracts, author interviews, details of forthcoming events and the option to sign up for our
newsletters
.