Krystal Barter
Growing up, Krystal knew her family history of cancer was extensive, to date, over 25 family members have been affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Her great grandmother died of a secondary cancer that started in her breasts at age 68, her grandmother Val battled breast cancer twice at ages 44 and 53. Nothing could prepare Krystal for what would happen next - her Mum's diagnosis at only 36 years of age. Krystal at the time was 14 and found the whole eperience not only frightening, bu life changing.
As a young woman with limited information and support networks, Krystal's mum inspired her to start charity work when she was 14. Krystal gained the courage and determination to speak out about her family's story with the hope of making a difference. And what a difference she has made.
At age 22, Krystal tested positive for the BRCA1 gene fault. After years of careful consideration, Krystal decided to have a preventive double mastectomy after changes were discovered in her mammogram at only 25 years old.
Krystal believes that whilst this may not have been the right decision for everyone, it was the right one for her. The breast cancer statistics were not in her favor. Krystal would have been the fourth generation of women in her family to endure a double mastectomy and live with the scars of cancer.
Determined to make sure no other high risk woman felt alone, she invited 60 Minutes to share her story with Australia. The 60 Minutes footage is now used as a resource within many cancer clinics Austraila wide.
While recovering from her double mastectomy in hosiptal, Krystal reached for her laptop and started to create www.pinkhope.org.au, a community dedicated to inspiring, supporting and informing high-risk women.
Pink Hope is a place where high risk women can access support and information at any time, day or night. Krystal has had hunderds of media interviews, including the 2011 Austraila Pink Ribbon breakfast for the government.