'Decoding Annie Parker' Features A Real-Life Superhero Whose Discovery Has Impacted Countless Women

I was first invited to write for the Huffington Post back in May of last year, just after they did a profile on me and Veronica Brett, my line of swimwear for breast cancer survivors. (You can read that article here.)

Although I was quite flattered, I didn't take them up on the offer to blog at the time. I felt I didn't really have anything worthy of the Huffington Post's platform. I'm a big believer in, "if you don't have anything really important to say, then don't say anything".

Well, almost one year later, I find myself writing my first blog for the Huff Post.

Why? It's really important. Yes. That important.

So important that I would take time away from my family and my business and put myself out there in a public forum (!) to show the world my writing skills, or lack thereof.

Decoding Annie Parker tells the story of Annie Parker, a three-time cancer survivor, and Dr. Marie-Claire King (Dr. King played by Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt) and her discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. These mutations predetermine an increased risk for breast cancer and other types of cancer.

Why is one simple movie so important? Here goes (in my order of priority of course!):

1. Hollywood rarely, if ever, tells the story of female scientists. Actually, I take that back, the world rarely tells the story of female scientists.

Exactly who is Annie Parker and what do the studios want us to know about this movie?

Based on true events, Decoding Annie Parker tells the life affirming story of two remarkable women; the irrepressible Annie Parker, a three time cancer survivor and the geneticist Mary-Claire King whose discovery of the breast cancer BRCA gene mutation is considered one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century.

So, get over to your local movie theatre, take your husband, your partner, your boyfriend, your girlfriends, your daughters and sons, and see this movie. In fact, see it on opening night, Friday, May 2nd, with your girlfriends, and again on Saturday with family or someone you love.

Fork over your hard-earned $14.50, see Decoding Annie Parker and tell Hollywood and the world:

1. Female scientists matter.
2. Movies about women matter.
3. Movies starring women can be financially successful.
4. Research to end cancer and saves lives needs to be funded.
5. You want to see Helen Hunt in more movies.
6. Dr. Marie-Claire King rocks!

Stay tuned for my next blog. I think I just might be on a roll.

Patricia Brett is a BRCA1+ previvor, a mom, artist, Yale-educated architect, entrepreneur, and the founder and designer of Veronica Brett, the first line of sexy, sophisticated swimwear for breast cancer survivors.

You can read some of Patricia's earlier attempts at writing blogs on Veronica Brett.com. Patricia resides with her husband and son in Manhattan (where the price of a movie ticket really is $14.50).