- By Dr. Robina Smith
- Posted January 7, 2016
6 questions to ask your doctor about your cancer diagnosis
Doubt, anger and confusion. These are understandable feelings to have, if you or someone close to you discovers that you/they have cancer, or may carry genes that increase the risk for cancer. What does that mean? What happens now? What is cancer? You may have been given unexpected news and may not know where to turn, who to see, or what to ask.…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted January 6, 2016
Being Your Own Healthcare Advocate
There is no manual to this cancer thing. I quickly learned that I would have to be my own best advocate. In my case, my primary healthcare physician wasn't involved in the course of my cancer treatment. Maybe my situation was atypical, given that my radiologist was the father of a close friend. I had been diagnosed with breast cancer and the pathology…
- By Dr. Robina Smith
- Posted December 31, 2015
How can I reduce my risk or prevent cancers?
These two questions are commonly asked when someone realizes that they (or their family member) have an increased risk to develop a particular cancer in their lifetime. It should be understood that every living person has a small chance to develop various cancers throughout his/her life. Cancers are a group of more than 100 diseases that occur…
- By Theresa Smith
- Posted December 29, 2015
Now that I know my DNA is messed up, what do I do next?
Sharing the news about my test results with my immediate family was tough. I'll offer some thoughts here based on my experience, but you'll know what works best for you. The adult conversations I had ended up with me being asked a lot of questions, and I didn't even yet know the answers. If this happens to you, you could consider sending adult…
- By Jessica Profato, MS, CGC
- Posted December 24, 2015
What does it even mean to have a BRCA gene mutation?
Our "BRCA & Beyond" blog continues to be a place where we discuss and share information about important topics surrounding BRCA1/2 mutations, and we hope you find it helpful. For this post, I wanted to share some scientific background with you about what it actually means to have a BRCA1/2 (often referred to as "BRCA") gene…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted December 22, 2015
The Results of Genetic Testing Impacts Lives
Before my breast cancer diagnosis, I had a brief conversation with my OB/GYN physician regarding my potentially increased breast cancer risk. I was coming up on my 35th birthday, and thought it might be responsible to schedule a baseline mammogram. I don't recall anything remarkable about that conversation with my doctor. She provided me with literature…
- By Jessica Profato, MS, CGC
- Posted December 18, 2015
What do Genetic Counselors Do? (Original)
My name is Jessica Profato-Partlow. I am a relatively new member of the Ambry Genetics family, and very excited to be a part of Hereditarycancer.com. As a clinical genetic counselor prior to joining Ambry, I spent several years providing hereditary cancer genetic counseling services to many families at a busy cancer hospital. In that setting, I…
- By Theresa Smith
- Posted December 16, 2015
I tested positive for a gene mutation?
"You have tested positive for a BRCA2 gene mutation. .." Really? Are you sure? "Yes," the geneticist says, "...here are your results." You have a mutation in your DNA, "6503delTT." Although I knew I may be positive for the BRCA genetic mutation, I convinced myself over the eight weeks I had to wait for the results, that I probably wasn't…
- By Dr. Robina Smith
- Posted December 11, 2015
Knowing your hereditary cancer risks may save your life.
As a breast cancer surgeon, it is obvious to see where my commitment and compassion lie. Serving and saving the lives of women (and men) affected by breast cancer is why I pursued a breast surgery fellowship and specialized solely in Breast Surgical Oncology. Besides treating patients diagnosed with breast cancer, I also managed and treated women…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted December 9, 2015
"Five minutes ago, I was having lunch... and now I have cancer?"
My name is Eve and I am a breast cancer survivor. Sounds like an introduction at an AA meeting. Let's try this again... my name is Eve and I am a vivacious, animal loving, bicycle riding, paddle boarding, educated professional who happens to also be a 7-year breast cancer survivor at the age of 42. Sound better? Being a breast cancer survivor doesn't…