![\"Lindsey](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/51be023f6b8fdadf15cbd7cf0b116be5.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nA woman who discovered she had a higher risk of developing breast cancer has praised the science centre where she was tested.<\/p>\n
Abbie Yorke, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was diagnosed with a BRCA gene variant by a team at Newcastle’s Life Science Centre in 2022. The variant increases a person’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n
“It almost felt like I could act upon it to safeguard me but also my little boys,” she said. Ms Yorke went on to have a preventive double mastectomy in 2024.<\/p>\n
She said she was “very proud” of the science centre – which has celebrated its 25th anniversary – and called the team who helped her “life saving”.<\/p>\n
The Life Science Centre was officially opened by Elizabeth II in May 2000 and has since been home to medical research and treatment, spanning fertility to diseases including cancer.<\/p>\n
Lindsey Power, from Newcastle, said whenever she drives through the city she always points out the site to her triplets.<\/p>\n
“It was always my dream to have a baby and I knew that I would have to go down the IVF route or the fertility route,” she said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lindsey Power sought help from the fertility centre at the site [BBC]<\/p>\n
After seeking help from the fertility centre at the site, she recalled seeing the first scan of her children in 2022.<\/p>\n
“I’ll never forget [it],” she said. “There were two sacs there\u2026 it was confirmed just before Christmas \u2013 there’s triplets there.”<\/p>\n
She said the team “from start to end were fantastic”.<\/p>\n
Linda Conlan, chief executive of Life, said: “Over that quarter century there have been numerous breakthroughs in medical research, which have enhanced the lives of so many people.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a 25 years.”<\/p>\n
Follow BBC North East on X<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links