In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa sits down with Jackie Wendell, a Lynch Syndrome advocate and uterine cancer survivor, for an honest conversation about hereditary cancer risk, medical dismissal, genetic testing, and learning to advocate for yourself when you know something isn’t right.
Jackie grew up with a significant family history of cancer, but it wasn’t until her own uterine cancer diagnosis at just 30 years old that genetic testing confirmed Lynch Syndrome and an MSH2 mutation. Her story is a powerful reminder of why knowing your family cancer history matters and why persistent or unusual symptoms deserve to be taken seriously.
Jackie shares what it was like experiencing severe symptoms while being told she was too young for something serious, eventually receiving her cancer diagnosis, navigating fertility and IVF, and making difficult decisions surrounding a hysterectomy and risk reduction. She also opens up about life after treatment, including surgical menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), mental health, and the realities of adjusting to a body and life that changed much earlier than expected.
Jackie is a board-certified health and wellness coach, certified personal trainer, and Lynch Syndrome advocate. Her own hereditary cancer experience inspired her to help others feel more informed, empowered, and proactive about their health, particularly those navigating cancer risk and women experiencing menopause.
Through her coaching practice, Really Well with Jackie, she helps women build realistic, sustainable habits around nutrition, movement, strength, and overall wellness so they can feel stronger, more energized, and more confident in their health.
In this episode, we talk about Lynch Syndrome, uterine cancer at a young age, family cancer history, genetic testing, advocating for yourself in the medical system, fertility after cancer, IVF, hysterectomy, surgical menopause, HRT, and finding support from people who truly understand what it means to live with hereditary cancer risk.
Connect with Jackie:
","author_name":"BRCA & Beyond LLC"}