Jenn Perry, 57, breast cancer and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, Chicopee and her daughter, Sam

WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon

Jenn Perry discovered her breast cancer like many women do: finding a lump. She had a biopsy which confirmed a tumor. But Jenn is not like most breast cancer patients and survivors. Jenn has an inherited genetic syndrome known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS).

When Jenn was treated for breast cancer, she didn’t know what LFS was. She just knew there were a number of relatives in her family who had cancer, including her mother who lost her life to breast cancer. She underwent genetic testing to see if her cancer was caused by genetics and she learned that it was.

Jenn felt she would get the best care at Dana-Farber, especially being pre-disposed to multiple different cancers from LFS. Dana-Farber is home to one of the only LFS Centers in the country. The knowledge that her cancer was caused by an inherited condition, while empowering in some ways, gave rise to a more difficult question – could her daughters also have LFS and should they undergo genetic testing. When the timing was right, both her daughters underwent genetic testing revealing that they both have LFS. Her oldest daughter Samantha was diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Jenn does not let breast cancer slow her down and takes a glass half-full approachto life. Her passion is competitive show jumping in the equestrian world.

Jenn also serves as president of the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Association, an organization dedicated to a world without genetic cancers.

Jenn is married to her best friend and love of her life, Bert, and has two wonderful daughters, Samantha, 30 and Lexi, 21.