- By Lisa Kindel
- Posted October 5, 2022
Never Surrender: Mike Rogers Grinds on Post Sarcoma to Help Others Beat Cancer
Back in the 1970s, skateboarding was all the rage. The Zephyr skate team from Southern California wowed young men all over the country with their different tricks, jumps, and grinds. One of these impressionable youths was Mike Rogers. He started his skating career in Florida in 1977. Little did he know he’d face much larger challenges than working…
- By Jessica Profato, MS, CGC
- Posted June 8, 2018
I Survived Cancer, so Why do I Need Genetic Testing for it?
As a clinical genetic counselor, I saw many cancer survivors for genetic counseling. In some cases, it had been 30-40 years since they were diagnosed. Some of them were in their 60s-70s when I saw them, but they were young at the time of their cancer diagnosis. Years later, they were referred to me to talk about the possibility that their history…
- By Cynthia Rigali Lund
- Posted December 1, 2016
Despite Cancer, Holiday Abundance Awaits
Editor's Note: This is a continuation of Cynthia's initial experience of being diagnosed with hereditary ovarian cancer in 2012, which she began to tell us in her post from September 29, 2016. With an October diagnosis, the holiday season was going to be a new experience for our family of five. Although difficult in many ways, cancer…
- By Cynthia Rigali Lund
- Posted September 29, 2016
In The Beginning: My Ovaries Were Talking, but I Wasn't Listening
What a perfect time to begin my story — we are in the middle of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, as well as National HBOC (hereditary breast and ovarian cancer) Week. I love when things line up like it was all meant to be… Things did not line up for me in October of 2012. While preparing funeral arrangements for my dad who…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted August 18, 2016
Putting Yourself First
When it comes to putting yourself first, I’d say to anyone else, ‘DO IT!’ particularly to someone who’s been through treatment for breast cancer, which is the equivalent of being put through hell and back. Truth be told, I need to practice more of what I preach. I often overextend myself on projects or requests made by others, and it’s…
- By Bill Rotter
- Posted July 28, 2016
Ways The Ambry Genetics HBOC Patient Website Would Have Been Helpful After My Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Genetic Testing
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2013, and soon after learned I had inherited a gene mutation that was passed on from my father’s side of my family. This overwhelming news was cause for great concern as much of what I had just learned was a lot to absorb. I was the first in my family to be tested for BRCA1/2 gene mutations…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted May 5, 2016
Fear of Recurrence and Mortality
I would imagine it’s normal to face some degree of depression, anxiety, and fear when cancer becomes a part of your life. I have always felt lucky that my cancer was caught early enough that the doctors were able to get it all out with my surgery and 8 chemotherapy treatments. I continued to undergo ovarian cancer screening until having a bilateral…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted May 3, 2016
Personal Impact of Peer Support
As a breast cancer survivor I think I experience a bit of Survivor Guilt. I occasionally wonder, “Why me and not them?” Or rather, why hasn’t this disease been eradicated yet and why aren’t we ALL survivors? It hurts me to the core to know that I will lose more friends and possibly even my mother to the same disease that I have been able…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted April 19, 2016
Ride Marshaling at YSC Tour de Pink South
As I said in my last post: ”Breast cancer survivors share a connection, and I’ve come to learn that in some unconscious way by helping others, I’m helping myself to heal and spin a positive out of something that was negative.” This past weekend, I had the honor of ride marshaling at the Young Survival Coalition’s (YSC’s) inaugural…
- By Eve Mart
- Posted March 29, 2016
Peer Support
I hadn’t set out to be the “go-to-girl” for all things breast cancer, but when you’re faced with a challenge and come out on the other side fairing pretty well, I think people trust you. Maybe they’re just looking for positive support wherever they can, when they find themselves in a similarly difficult spot. It starts with a phone call,…