Battling Cancer

Yesterday, my friend Carey wrote a little bit about her family’s experience with BRCA genetic testing. Recently, I read a related article over at Ramunus’ excellent Cancer Genetics blog entitled, “When Having BRCA Mutation is Not So Bad or Even Better.”

It’s a pretty good brief explanation of two new studies that challenge the conventional thinking of BCRA mutation = bad. Check it out!

Because so many of members of my extended family have been diagnosed with cancer, I have always been keenly aware that I may have a stronger genetic predisposition for cancer than other individuals.

Growing up, my parents always stressed the importance of being vigilant when it came to proper screenings and making smart lifestyle choices that could help decrease my risk of major diseases.  One of my best friends, Carey Grayson, understood what I was going through.  In recent years, she’s had a staggering number of family members undergo their own battles with cancer.  Recently, I asked her to comment on her own thoughts about being in a high-risk cancer family.  Below is her reply:

There are so many questions that people have about cancer. The problem is that it never occurs to anyone to ask them until their lives are touched somehow by the disease. I know because I have been there six times now. More →