Gardner Syndrome is a rare disease, it is a subtype (and severe form) of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). GS is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by Gastro Intestinal polyps, multiple osteomas, and skin and soft tissue tumors, specifically, epidermoid cysts, desmoid tumors, and other benign tumors. Polyps have a 100% risk of undergoing malignant transformation. These are a lot of big words that basically mean your body has genes that are going to mutate, and these genes are going to try to kill you. Like the Joker in the original Batman comics. Despite how hard you fight against the Joker he never seems to actually die.

It is a hereditary gene that is nondiscriminatory of sex. If one of your parents have the gene, you have a 50% chance of inheriting it. This is not something we want to inherit from our mother or father, but it will happen, and I am not going to sugar coat it: it will suck.  If you have the gene it will mutate. Maybe not right away, maybe not until the end of your life, if you’re lucky…. What am I saying?! If you’re reading this, you, or someone you know, has Gardner Syndrome. Like me.

I am a 26 year old Caucasian female from Canada. Athletic, aspiring, adventurous. I love ice hockey and cycling. I enjoy the ever-evolving technology and videography. I enjoy reading and writing. I am relatively healthy, but I guess not now.

I have created 5q21 to serve as a place for us to motivate, empower and encourage each other. Although this site intends to be positive, it is not going to be one of those sites that grandises having a rare incurable and terminal disease by being unrealistically and overwhelmingly positive like others. I am human and I imagine I’m going to have some really great days and some really crumby ones, and I know you will too. I hope to use 5q21 as a therapeutic resource for all of us, to build strength among the masses, and to share with you my experience with Gardner Syndrome.

Let’s mow down Gardner Syndrome.