After a month of conversations about ovarian cancer risk, screening, fallopian tubes, fertility, preventive surgery, surgical menopause, HRT, and hereditary cancer, there’s one question left:
What do we actually do with all of this information?
In the finale of our Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month series, Marisa steps back to look at the bigger picture.
Because learning your cancer risk is one thing. Understanding how that information applies to your body, your family history, your mutation, and your life is another.
In this episode, we talk about how to find reliable medical information, understand the difference between established recommendations and emerging research, ask better questions during appointments, seek second opinions, and build a care team that can support more than just cancer prevention.
We also talk about something that can easily get lost when discussing preventive surgery: what happens afterward. Who helps manage surgical menopause? When should conversations about HRT happen? What about sexual health, fertility, bone health, quality of life, and the emotional impact of making an irreversible medical decision?
The goal of this series was never to tell you what decision to make.
It was to help you understand the questions worth asking before you make it.
Awareness gives us information. Advocacy helps us use it.
FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
Hereditary cancer information, support, research updates, risk management information, and resources for people with inherited cancer risk.
https://www.facingourrisk.org/
National Cancer Institute: BRCA1 and BRCA2
Information about BRCA1/2 cancer risks, genetic testing, ovarian cancer risk management, screening limitations, and risk-reducing surgery.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet
National Cancer Institute: Ovarian Cancer Prevention
Evidence-based information about ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer risk and prevention.
https://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-prevention-pdq
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Ovarian Cancer
Patient information about ovarian cancer risk, high-risk individuals, risk-reducing surgery, and surgical menopause.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/ovarian-cancer
ACOG: BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations
Information about BRCA-related cancer risk, preventive surgery, removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and considerations surrounding surgical menopause.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/brca1-and-brca2-mutations
The Menopause Society: Hormone Therapy
Evidence-based patient education about hormone therapy, including different forms of estrogen and progestogen therapy, potential benefits and risks, and questions to discuss with a menopause-trained healthcare professional.
https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy
The Menopause Society: Patient Education
Additional resources on menopause symptoms, sexual health, nonhormonal treatment options, hormone therapy, and preparing for menopause care.
https://menopause.org/patient-education
If you are navigating hereditary ovarian cancer risk or considering risk-reducing surgery, talk with a genetic counselor, gynecologic oncologist, and other qualified healthcare professionals about recommendations specific to your genetic mutation, personal history, family history, age, and individual circumstances.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
","author_name":"Marisa Stachelski, Cancer Survivor & BRCA2 Previvor"}