Hello everyone and welcome to my BRCA website for previvors and survivors. I’m hoping that together we can create a BRCA home where we can form a sisterhood and help each other. I’m going to try my hardest to get us the most factual and current information that is out there, where we can all stay informed, and make the best decisions about our health, and try to deliver it in a simple and easy to understand way. I welcome all feedback and any recommendations! IF YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE NAVIGATING THE SITE…JUST EMAIL ME. LOST PASSWORD? EMAIL ME! If you are a previvor  or survivor, please feel free to tell your story in the forum, start a discussion, ask a question, or send me an email. If you have an event that you would like to publish, just let me know!

Please register and introduce yourself in your home state whether or not you are a previvor or survivor. If you belong to a support group–please list it for new members -also in your home state. I would like a woman or her family to be able to find support in her own community. It’s easy, just register (bottom right-under META) then after you get your password, go to the forum, click on your home state and hit-add a new topic.

Please show your support for all the women in your life - your mothers, sisters, daughters and friends.

We are international & domestic now!

We have raised lots of money for our cause & helped many people. I hope to continue to grow with your help. If any of you would like to see a special forum, just let me know. Let me know how you are doing as well!

The best part of this site is that you may remain anonymous! All you have to do is let me know you’d like to participate & I will post anonymously for you. I believe that is why this site has become so popular so fast. You don’t have to join to participate, although if I have your email address I can send you regular private updates.

The website is basically running by itself now. As new info becomes available, it will be posted. If you readers hear of anything important to share—please do!

This coming year my goal is to continue helping women & their families. When you hear of a family needing help, be there to shop, carpool, donate meals, get  gift certificates for salons, entertainment, dining, etc.  Let’s stay educated about nutrition, yoga, exercise…you think of it—let’s make it happen!

I would also like to have our BRCA awareness day in October to coincide with Breast/Ovarian Cancer awareness.  We need to involve our communities. Educate & make people aware & sensitive to our cause.

Be well you all.
Wishing you all continued good health. Thanks for your support!
x0×0
Tobey

BRCA NEWSWORTHY

Melbourne Trial of Breast Regrowth Surgery Neopec

11/11/09 reported by: Grant McArthurfrom perthnow

There’s a STEM CELL BREAKTHRU STUDY going on in Australia to help breast

Cancer patients, BRCA patients GROW BACK THEIR OWN BREAST TISSUE.

If this study is successful it could replace implants & breast reconstructions going on today.

The procedure uses the stem cells of our own fat to regenerate the growth of new breast tissue.

Follow this link for the entire story & video: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,26338552-5017320,00.html

BRCA NEWSWORTHY

Breast cancer surgery Dr. Richard Berg is a General Surgeon at Clarian Arnett Health.

By Dr. Bob Martin

Short advertisement in article form…follow this link… http://www.jconline.com/article/20081021/LIFE0302/310210001/-1/FRONTPAGEMAJOR

A short easy article defining: lumpectomy, mastectomy & lymph node testing. My favorite sentence was “an important factor in emotionally surviving breast cancer is to have an active role in treatment decisions.”

BRCA NEWSWORTHY

Is Breast Cancer in Your Genes?

You can follow the link to get the entire story!

http://www.wsls.com/sls/lifestyles/health_med_fit/article/is_breast_cancer_in_your_genes/19303/

The article is written by Mary Shedden from Media General News Service on October 14, 2008.

When someone you know & love gets diagnosed with breast cancer it often is a reminder for others to go and get checked! Besides a mammogram, sonogram & MRI, there is now genetic testing.

The test is very expensive & Myriad Genetics Inc. is the lab with the ability to identify the BRCA gene. It is a simple blood test. (You should also check with your insurance company as to their coverage policy.) You also need genetic counseling before & after getting tested for the BRCA gene mutation. Having a positive gene mutation is not the same as getting cancer, but you still need to make decisions. This is best made with a professional. They are trained to determine your chances & percentages of getting cancer after assessing your family history.

Should you get tested? Yes…If you have 2 or more family members with a history of breast & or ovarian cancer especially if the family member was diagnosed before the age of 50. Another criteria is if you are of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. One in forty Ashkenazi Jews are genetically predisposed to breast/ovarian cancer. Everyone has BRCA genes but only a small amount of people wind up with mutated ones- the highest incidence being in Ashkenazi Jews.

Whether or not hereditary breast /ovarian cancer is in your family….GO GET CHECKED REGULARLY!

BRCA NEWSWORTHY

Christina Applegate, star of one of my favorite shows “Samantha Who” is recovering from her recent double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer & finding out she is BRCA positive. We wish her a speedy recovery, and good health in the future.

July 1, 2008

There are different mastectomy procedures, but the one that is most recommended these days is the skin sparing mastectomy. This procedure involves removing all of the breast tissue, including the nipple and areola, but not the breast skin. Having a mastectomy, rather than being vigilant with testing gives you more of a guarantee that your nodes will not be affected in the future.

Women choosing reconstruction immediately after the mastectomy do well with this choice.