i watched my mother die a horrible death from ovarian cancer and then shortly after that i watched my sister battle ovarian cancer and she also has the brca1 gene and after she was tested and went through eight rounds of chemotherapy i knew i had to get tested for the brca1 gene, as well. >> i was really pro surgery. not everyone is. i couldn't live with that anxiety any more. i drove myself crazy. every year, every mammogram and just panic until the next year. >> drrx gordon is the author of "positive results making the best decisions when you're at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer." she joins us from los angeles. nice to have you here on this important topic that we need to discuss. what is the brca gene and somewhat the difference between 1 and 2?