Pretty is What Changes by Jessica Queller 362.196 Que

This was a great (if often sad) non-fiction read. Jessica was raised by a mother (Stephanie) who was more interested in material things than in nurturing her two daughters. The daughters are grown up now. Stephanie has battled through breast cancer. Six years later, at the age of fifty-eight, she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Jessica and Danielle, her sister, devote themselves to their mother during her last two years. During this time Jessica finds out about a test to see if one is a carrier of a BRCA mutation. With this mutation the lifetime risk of breast cancer is up to 87% and a 44% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer. This is the story of Jessica's struggle with losing her mother, wrestling with the idea of taking the test and the usual stuff (finding the right guy!). It is a very moving book.