About Me

My name is Yvonne Sherba. I am a wife, mother and career woman who is usually able to look stress in the face and laugh. I always say I prefer work stress over personal stress any day of the week because my home is my sanctuary. My place to let go of the day, take a breath, and just enjoy life. It's crazy how life is so routine one day and at any moment that can change.

In the fall of 2016 I went for an annual woman's exam and my doctor told me she wanted to run a test. She had looked through my family medical history and the breast cancer that my mom and aunt had raised some flags. She wanted to do a genetics test for BRCA, the breast cancer gene. I was all for it. A couple months later she called with my results. My doctor was pleased to report the test was negative for BRCA but that was not the end of it. The results came back positive for a different genetic condition: Lynch Syndrome - MSH2.

Neither my doctor nor my family understood what Lynch Syndrome was but through her research, my doctor was confident that Cleveland Clinic could help. After a long, mentally exhausting meeting with a genetics counselor it just didn't seem like a real thing. A genetic mutation that causes a wide variety of cancers that is not rare but underdiagnosed. Yes you read that right. I couldn't believe it when they said 1 out of every 279 people are living with Lynch Syndrome and those who had not had cancer yet were called Previvors. As I read through the cancer list that was in my results folder I was dumbfounded.....

• Colorectal Cancer
• Endometrial Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Small Bowel Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Bile Duct Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Brain Cancer
• Skin Cancer

I thought to myself What the heck is happening? This cannot be a real thing. If it is not rare then why have I never heard of this?

Within five months of learning about the Lynch Syndrome, I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy to start what would be annual screenings followed by a total hysterectomy for prevention. From one year to the next I never knew what they could find. Every so often doctors would see something they didn't like and take a biopsy or two. So much anxiety waiting for those results. I would keep myself busy all the time just so I wouldn't think about it. Then it reached the point where every annual appointment led to additional screenings followed by visits with new doctors.  It was hard to not think about what a doctor could find. Going into each appointment it becomes emotionally exhausting just hoping that it will be another year of them saying No signs of cancer! All good until next year!  Then you go about your normal routines hoping nothing happens. Always just hoping. 

I knew there was no cure for this mutation in my genes but I did know there were cures for what it can cause. I could not just live my life hoping all the time. I had to figure out the best ways to stay ahead of what could come. 

No I did not just read everything I found on the internet. That is enough to make anyone crazy and the internet does not replace a medical team. However, I set out on a new mission to keep myself healthy inside and out so when the time came to fight, I was strong enough to fight hard and win both mentally and physically. I wanted to maintain control of my body to the best of my ability. I needed to be a good example for my son because unfortunately I knew there was a good chance he could have the same diagnosis.

This blog is my journey on how I live a positive, full life through all the stones Lynch Syndrome throws at me. I hope I can spread the word about Lynch Syndrome and inspire others living with Lynch Syndrome to live beyond worry and fear.