Ivonne Harris: Honoring Her Mother by Facing Risk and Being Proactive

— By Megan Brown, ABCD Marketing & Communications Support, and Edited by Gina Rich

May 20, 2025

After losing her mother to breast cancer and learning she carries the BRCA2 mutation that puts her at high risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers, Ivonne Harris didn’t hesitate to act. “As soon as I got the results, I knew what I wanted to do,” she says. For Ivonne, knowledge was power — and a chance to be proactive and take control of her future.

Ivonne is what’s known as a previvor, a term coined by the organization FORCE-Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered to describe a survivor of a predisposition to cancer. According to FORCE’s website, previvors are people with an inherited mutation, a family history of cancer, or some other factor that increases their risk of cancer. 

Ivonne soon found herself navigating a path filled with complex decisions centered on lowering her risk as much as possible. She ultimately decided to pursue a prophylactic double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction. But while she approached the logistical aspects with confidence, Ivonne wasn’t prepared for the emotional and physical aspects of what was ahead. “I thought I’d feel relieved once I had the surgery,” she reflects. “But there was so much more to it — healing physically, emotionally, learning to accept my new reality. It’s not just the surgery. It’s what comes after.”

Recovery, Setbacks, and Self-Acceptance

What followed the double mastectomy and reconstruction was a long recovery — longer than expected — filled with physical therapy, pain management, and self-discovery. A rotator cuff issue added extra challenges, but Ivonne stayed committed to the path she chose. Her deep sense of purpose kept her grounded. “I didn’t do this for cosmetic reasons. I had to choose and I chose to be here longer,” she says.

Ivonne underwent additional procedures, including a second surgery to refine her reconstruction and a third to prepare for 3D nipple tattooing, which will complete the process. Through it all, she found strength in her support system, especially her husband, who stayed by her side every step of the way. “He calls me his superhero,” Ivonne says with a smile.

The Emotional Complexity of Being a Previvor

Despite the emotional highs and lows, Ivonne is proud of what she’s endured. She feels empowered to help others facing similar choices. “Being a previvor is its own kind of journey,” she explains. “Just because we’re preventing cancer doesn’t mean it’s simple or easy. There’s grief, there’s loss, even if you’re technically healthy. People expect you to be thankful and move on, but it’s more layered than that.”

She also speaks openly about the misconceptions surrounding prophylactic surgery and reconstruction. “People assume you’re doing it to look a certain way, but for me, it was about survival. I wanted to be around for my family,” she says.

Finding ABCD and Becoming a Mentor

Ivonne found ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis on Instagram after she did a search for posts that used the previvor hashtag. “When I came across ABCD and watched some of the very inspiring YouTube videos, I cried, but it was good tears,” she recalls. Throughout her experience, Ivonne’s family was supportive, but there were questions she wished she could have asked someone. “After finding ABCD, I was like, oh, here’s a way to connect with people because for a minute there I felt a bit lonely,” says Ivonne. “I had wanted someone to talk to, especially someone who’d already been through it.”

Today she’s thankful to be able to reflect on everything she went through. “It’s rewarding to know I was able to get past it and be at the phase where I can talk about it,” Ivonne says. “I feel grounded, I feel comfortable, and that’s the reason I wanted to become an ABCD Mentor, so that I can help someone else.”

After participating in ABCD’s first New Mentor Training for previvors in November 2024, Ivonne is honored to now support other previvors who are navigating risk, decision-making, and recovery. Her first match was already a meaningful connection. “She had lots of questions,” says Ivonne. “I was able to help her figure out her next step and she helped me, too.”

Ivonne still checks in with her first match and wants to inspire others in her life to get involved — starting with her sister, a fellow previvor, who she believes would make an incredible ABCD Mentor whenever she’s ready.

Honoring Her Mother and Sharing Her Story

Ivonne hopes she’s made her mother proud. Tattoos of a rose and pink ribbon on Ivonne’s arm honor her mother’s legacy and serve as a conversation starter. “People ask if I had cancer,” says Ivonne. “I say no, but I’ll tell you what I did go through and why.”

As Ivonne prepares to complete her reconstruction, she’s taking time to choose the right artist for her 3D tattooing, knowing it’s the final phase of a long, emotional process. “I want it to be right,” she says. “I want to feel proud when I look in the mirror.”

Ivonne wants other previvors to know they’re not alone if they feel overwhelmed. “Healing takes time, and it’s okay if it doesn’t happen all at once,” she says. “It’s not just about the surgery or physical recovery. It’s about piecing together how you feel in your body again. You’re not alone, even if it feels that way sometimes. Talking to someone who’s been there can really help.”

Ivonne tested positive for the BRCA2 mutation and had a prophylactic double mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction.