Photo credit Jill Martin Instagram A couple weeks ago, I received a message in a group text chat with friends and patient advocates. Janet wrote, “Jill Martin is sharing our message of inheriting mutations from our fathers!” Her sister Eileen shared, “I just watched it. It really touches home.” Jill Martin, lifestyle contributor of the …
We are pleased to highlight board member, Dr. Cobie Whitten, who brings her experience and passion as a patient advocate to the Genetic Support Foundation. For more than 30 years, Cobie Whitten has worked tirelessly to support patients facing a cancer diagnosis and improve survivorship services for those patients and their families at all points …
Each year, cancer affects millions of people worldwide. In the U.S. nearly 40 percent of men and women will develop cancer in their lifetime. While developing cancer can be a concern, for many people, cancer can be prevented. Here are three ways to approach cancer prevention: 1. Know your family history. Research around hereditary cancer …
Written By: Cobie Whitten, PhD While uncertainty is inevitable, it is hard. We yearn for certainty and security about the future. This is especially true after we have encountered a potential threat to our health or well-being. The more we resist the uncertainty, the more pain we experience. By acknowledging and even accepting the unanswered questions and …
This one hit differently. In 2016, I received the ecstatic news of being accepted into my Genetic Counseling Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota. In 2016, Chadwick Boseman received the devastating news of being diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. It would take 4 years for the world to find out. In 2018, I …
Chadwick Boseman and Colon Cancer: The World Knew No Better Read More »
Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer, with most skin cancers being basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell cancers. More rare are melanomas, which are a more serious type of skin cancer. Although they make up only 1% of all skin cancer diagnoses, melanoma is responsible for the most skin cancer deaths. What …
Understanding Melanoma: Genetic and Environmental Factors Read More »
In the world of genetics, we often use the term Knowledge is Power. Gaining that knowledge usually starts with a genetic counseling appointment, then spreads into research, support groups, podcasts, you name it. When it comes to those of us with hereditary cancer risk, we can often be hungry for even more knowledge. One of …
Must-Reads for Women with Hereditary Cancer Risk Read More »
An extra element of stress has creeped into all our lives. We’ve made way for the coronavirus to take the foreground–adjusting our work, family, and social lives to fit into society’s larger efforts to curb this wild pandemic. This is a natural response. It’s imperative that we keep ourselves and loved ones healthy. We’ve been …
I Have a BRCA1 Gene Mutation: The Extra Stress of COVID-19 Takes a Toll Read More »
March 3 is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day, so we want to discuss the important association of a breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1) and Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Changes (or mutations) in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can predispose to a higher risk for some types of cancer, including breast, ovarian cancer, prostate, and pancreatic …
Hereditary Risks for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Read More »
What is a Genetic Counselor? It’s a question every single genetic counselor has heard many times. While it can be frustrating, it’s also kind of understandable. While genetic counseling has been around since the early 1970s, up until fairly recently, the vast majority of people didn’t have much of a reason to see a genetic …
