Blog
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BRCA & genetic mutations
03 August 2020
Calling all male BRCA carriers
Men are just as likely to carry a BRCA mutation as women. Boston College is recruiting BRCA+ men to help improve their experience.
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International DNA Day
April 25th is International DNA Day, commemorating the day that papers by James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, Rosalind Franklin, and their colleagues on the structure of DNA were published in Nature.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
10 April 2019
"It was only through my two sisters having cancer that I discovered my genetic status"
Lorraine Benn is the youngest of four sisters. After the eldest two were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she and her sister Susan elected to have hysterectomies as a precaution. Following this surgery, Lorraine’s histology results came back showing that she had ovarian cancer.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
13 March 2019
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"I loved my experience at the lab, and hearing about Jon's work was the highlight of the day"
Gift Hamisi has a family history of ovarian cancer, and was recently tested for the BRCA gene mutation, to discover if she also faced a high risk. We invited her to meet Dr Jonathan Krell at the Ovarian Cancer Research Centre, whose work focuses on hereditary mutations.
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Ovarian cancer debate to take place in the House of Commons
A debate on ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment is going to take place in the House of Commons on 30th October 2018 at 9:30 am and we need your help to get as many MPs to attend as possible.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
17 October 2018
"The big question was whether we should test our kids"
When Jon and his wife ordered an at-home DNA test, they were excited to learn more about their genetic makeup. However, what they weren't prepared for was to receive information about Jon's genetic cancer risk that would have implications for the whole family.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
04 July 2018
"My story proves how important it is to have an understanding of your family history"
Jess, 24, discovered she was BRCA2+ after her father was contacted by a relative who had tested positive. She describes the ups-and-downs of the past year, and why she now feels empowered by knowing her genetic status.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
18 June 2018
"Before I was told I was BRCA positive, I had very limited knowledge of what it was"
Andrea is 40, and mum to three girls. She recently discovered both she and her youngest daughter are BRCA2 positive.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
01 March 2018
I'm a BRCA-carrier — should I have a hysterectomy?
A topic that comes up regularly amongst BRCA mutation carriers is whether it is necessary to have a full hysterectomy at the same time as having their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. To get an expert view, we asked Mr Adam Rosenthal, Consultant Gynaecologist, UCLH to clear up the confusion.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
22 November 2017
"I’ve learnt to cherish every moment with my family"
After losing her cousin to ovarian cancer, Christina underwent genetic testing and found out that she carries the BRCA 1 gene mutation. Being BRCA+ greatly increases her risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer. Empowered with this knowledge, Christina was able to take action with preventative surgeries to ensure that she is around for her children for many more Christmases to come…
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BRCA & genetic mutations
16 November 2017
"I am determined to see this treatment as a precious gift of life"
In the general population, around 1 in every 400 to 1 in every 800 people carry a BRCA1/2 gene mutation. This figure is, however, significantly higher for people from an Ashkenazi Jewish background, like Stefanie, where it rises to 1 in 40. After losing her mum to ovarian cancer in 2015 and discovering that she too is BRCA positive, Stefanie made the decision to go ahead with preventative surgery....
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BRCA & genetic mutations
07 November 2017
Living with Lynch Syndrome
23 years after her father's death, Suzie Lismore underwent genetic testing and discovered that both she and her brother have Lynch Syndrome; a genetic mutation that increases an individual's risk of certain types of cancer. Suzie now wishes to share her experience to raise the profile of this little-known hereditary condition and its potentially devastating consequences.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
03 August 2017
BRCA risk factors: Making sense of the headlines
Following a new study on risks for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, Jo Stanford, our Cancer Prevention Officer, breaks down the main findings to examine what the research means for BRCA+ women making health decisions today.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
19 July 2017
Busting the myths about BRCA
Navigating the world of genetic testing can be very confusing and scary at times. Jo Stanford, our Cancer Prevention Officer, addresses some of the common myths surrounding BRCA testing.
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Is there a cancer prevention diet?
We explore the link between a healthy diet and cancer prevention.
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Should we still be talking about ‘ovarian’ cancer?
Last week an article entitled "Why are we still talking about 'ovarian' cancer" was published and has since been widely shared on the internet. Our Cancer Prevention Officer, Jo, takes a look at the implications.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
10 November 2016
“Knowing my BRCA status gives me the opportunity to take action”
Our Cancer Prevention Officer Jo Stanford joined the team to focus on how BRCA can be used as a cancer prevention strategy. Here she shares her own BRCA story and explains why it is a cause so close to her heart.
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BRCA & genetic mutations
11 July 2016
‘I was BRCA tested as I wanted to be in the driving seat’
Since testing positive for the BRCA gene mutation in 2013, Cath Chamberlin has had both breasts, her ovaries and her fallopian tubes removed. She shares her story...
