I’m going to die, just like my mother did.

That’s what Ronda Lewis thought the moment she heard she had breast cancer.

“I immediately had a throwback moment, because I was just 38 years old,” said Ms Lewis. “My mother, Lynette Trott, died from breast cancer at 32 when I was just 11 years old. I called my best friend in tears. I said, ‘I’m going to die’.”

One of her grandmothers also died from breast cancer; another survived it.

During her year of treatment, the worst thing was watching her body change as a result of radiation and chemotherapy. She put on weight and lost her hair.

“Ask anyone and they will tell you I was always very proud of my long, thick hair,” the 44-year-old said. “My hairdresser said, ‘Why don’t we cut a little bit at a time to lessen the loss?’, but it still felt bad.”

Because of her family history she started having mammograms at 29. It saved her life. “The cancer was still in its early stages,” she said. “I was lucky, because the lump was very tiny.”

After the diagnosis she was found to have the BRCA1 genetic mutation which made her three to seven times more likely to develop breast cancer than women without the mutation.

Since the cancer was small, Ms Lewis could have chosen to just have the lump removed. Instead, because of BRCA1, she had a double mastectomy and had her ovaries and Fallopian tubes removed.

“I don’t remember the exact percentage, but it drastically reduced my chances of redeveloping it,” she said.

Ms Lewis is now an advocate for genetic testing. While she was being treated her aunt died from breast cancer.

“Once you find out you have this cancer gene they monitor you very closely,” she said. “The downside is that if you have this genetic mutation, it can be a lot to digest, emotionally.” She would like her daughter, Charmaine, to eventually have genetic testing, but believes it might be too much for the 21-year-old right now. Breast cancer definitely changed her outlook on life.

“Having an experience like that makes you realise you can’t take things for granted,” she said. “You have to live every single day to the fullest. I take better care of myself now by eating better and exercising.”

Today, she wears her hair closely cropped by choice.

“It is easier to care for,” she said. “And I think I wear it really well. I was pleasantly surprised. I get random people on the street telling me how great it looks.”

She’ll share her story at the upcoming Relay for Life of Bermuda, a 24-hour event designed to show support for cancer patients and survivors and raise money for breast cancer research.

“I try to take part in anything to do with breast cancer,” she said. “I think it is important that people know this is a serious issue. They need to know there is support out there.” She took part in last year’s event and found it very touching.

“I cried during the luminaria event where you light candles in these special bags to remember those who have died or survived,” she said. “I lit one for my aunt and my mother, and also my grandmother who died from it. I also lit one for myself and another grandmother who survived it.”

She was blown away by the number of people who took part in the survivor lap event. “There were so many people who survived or were going through it,” she said. “It blew my mind to learn that there were that many people dealing with cancer in Bermuda.”

Ms Lewis is the client service coordinator at AIG Global Risk Solutions, and enjoys cooking and reading in her spare time.

Relay for Life of Bermuda runs from 6pm on May 29 to 6pm on May 30 at the National Sports Centre. Money raised from the event goes to the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and the American Cancer Association. For more details and registration visit www.cancer.bm/get-involved/relay-for-life-of-bermuda/.