BRCA & Beyond

If you’re preparing for a mastectomy—whether it’s a preventative mastectomy because of a BRCA gene mutation or a mastectomy as part of breast cancer treatment—this episode is for you.I recorded this one because I have quite a few women in my own circle heading into mastectomies this month, and this has been an ongoing conversation between me and these women for weeks now. Real texts, real voice notes, real "What do I even do with all of this?” moments—sharing tips we’ve learned the hard way and the little things that end up making a huge difference. At some point I just thought… this shouldn’t stay private. So I’m bringing it here to all of our friends at BRCA & Beyond.This isn’t a “do it perfectly” guide, and it’s not meant to replace your medical team. It’s a supportive walk-through of how to prepare for a mastectomy mentally, emotionally, physically, and practically—in a way that feels human and doable, especially if you’re trying to hold life together while a surgery date is sitting on your calendar.We talk honestly about anticipatory anxiety in the days and weeks leading up to surgery...how that date can start to feel like doomsday and how complicated it is to be saying goodbye to a part of your body that’s tied to identity, femininity, motherhood, and sexuality…while also being the very thing you’re being told could someday harm you. If you’ve had the sobbing fests, the random waves of panic, the “I’m fine—wait, I’m not fine” moments… you’re not alone. I also share what helped me most: therapy early on, having a safe place to let the emotions out, and finding support that doesn’t require you to explain every single detail.From there, we get into physical preparation for mastectomy recovery: what the movement restrictions can look like, how long drains might be in, why muscle loss happens, and how gentle movement, walking, stretching, hydration, and prioritizing protein before and after surgery can truly support healing. I also share what I wish I did more of before my surgeries and why your body will thank you later for even small efforts now.And then we slow down and get very practical, because the practical prep matters. We talk about meal prepping and freezing food, setting up a meal train, and stocking easy high-protein snacks for the low-energy days. I walk through a real-life “recovery nesting” plan—including things like a recliner or lift chair (a total game-changer), what to wear after surgery (button-down pajamas, zip hoodies, elastic sweatpants), surgical bras and drain management, slippers or slides (because bending down is a whole situation), bath wipes and shower routines when you’re scared to get incisions wet, mastectomy pillows for comfort and protecting your chest (especially around kids), and a seat belt cushion for rides to follow-ups.We also talk about the first mirror moment — the “oh… this is real” moment — and the emotional side of adjusting afterward: body image, grief, relief, frustration, and how healing is not linear. I share why lining up support before surgery matters so much, including community resources like FORCE, and how giving your loved ones practical “jobs” ahead of time can make recovery feel less overwhelming.If this episode gives you even one thing that helps you feel steadier going into surgery and recovery, I’m so glad you’re here. This is a big surgery and a big season—and none of us were ever prepared to have to prepare for something like this in the first place… but you’re doing the right thing by gathering support and making it easier where you can.You’ve got this—and I promise you’re going to be okay.

What really happens after you get your genetic test results?In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa sits down with genetic counselor Sharon Pollack from JScreen to walk through what genetic testing can reveal—and what those results can mean for you and the people you love.Sharon has a strong background in both cancer and reproductive genetics. She earned her master’s degree in human genetics from Sarah Lawrence College and holds a master’s in bioethics from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She now works in an outreach and education role at JScreen, where she focuses on increasing awareness, empowering individuals with knowledge, and making genetic screening more accessible and understandable.Together, Marisa and Sharon talk about • What genetic counselors actually do • The emotional and family impact of genetic results • The difference between positive, negative, and VUS results • How genetic mutations are passed through families • Why cascade testing matters • What to expect after a genetic testIf you’ve ever wondered whether genetic testing is right for you or what your results could mean...this conversation will help you feel more informed, supported, and prepared.JScreen is a national nonprofit genetic testing and education program that offers clinical-grade at-home saliva testing for hereditary cancer risk. Their tests are processed through Myriad Genetics, a leading laboratory in genetic testing, and include access to licensed genetic counselors to guide you through the process and your results.You can order a kit directly to your home and complete the process with professional support every step of the way.Learn more or order a test:Visit JScreen.orgUse promo code BRCAandBeyond10 for $10 off your test.

Cancer Prevention Month… For Us, It’s Every Day With a Genetic MutationFebruary is Cancer Prevention Month. But for those of us living with a genetic mutation like BRCA, prevention isn’t something we think about once a year—it’s part of everyday life.In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa shares an honest, real conversation about what cancer prevention actually looks like when your risk is hereditary. From daily lifestyle choices to medical surveillance and preventative surgeries, this episode breaks down the difference between general wellness advice and true hereditary cancer risk management.Marisa opens up about her own experience—how she exercised, ate well, and still faced a stage 1 colon cancer diagnosis—and why that doesn’t make healthy habits pointless. Instead, she explains how movement, nutrition, hormone balance, inflammation reduction, and metabolic health all play an important role in supporting the body, even when your DNA can’t be changed.This episode is for anyone:Living with a BRCA or other genetic mutationNavigating hereditary cancer riskConsidering preventative surgeryFeeling overwhelmed by prevention decisionsWondering what prevention really looks like beyond lifestyle adviceIf you’ve ever felt like the typical “just be healthy” message doesn’t fully apply to you, this conversation will help you feel more informed, more grounded, and less alone.Because when your risk is genetic, prevention isn’t a month. It’s a way of life.

In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa sits down with Rori Zura—breast cancer survivor, certified Cancer Exercise Specialist, and founder of Foobs & Fitness to talk about what recovery really looks like for previvors and survivors, before, during, and after surgery and treatment.After navigating years of breast health concerns and a strong family history of cancer, Rori was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at just 33 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic. During treatment, fitness became her anchor—not to “fix” her body, but to stay connected to it and reclaim a sense of control. That experience reshaped her life and led her to become a certified Cancer Exercise Specialist and ultimately create Foobs & Fitness.From prehab to rehab, this conversation dives into the often-overlooked side of healing: rebuilding strength, protecting range of motion, navigating muscle loss, and learning how to move safely after mastectomy, reconstruction, hysterectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. Rori shares expert insight on the rehab gap many people face after being discharged, the physical and emotional impact of recovery, and why individualized, cancer-informed movement is essential for long-term healing.Whether you’re preparing for preventative surgery, actively in treatment, or navigating life after cancer, this episode offers practical guidance, reassurance, and real-world strategies to help you reconnect with your body in a way that feels safe, supported, and empowering.Today, through Foobs & Fitness, Rori supports both previvors and survivors with in-person and virtual programs designed specifically for every stage of the journey, helping people use movement as a lifeline to rebuild strength, confidence, and trust in their bodies during survivorship and beyond.Connect with Rori & explore Foobs & Fitness:Website: https://foobsandfitness.com/Instagram: @foobsandfitnessIf you or someone you love is facing preventative surgery, cancer treatment, or survivorship, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking for compassionate, informed, and realistic guidance on rebuilding after it all.

In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa talks about what healing can look like after preventative surgery, when survival mode eases, but your nervous system and emotions are still catching up.This conversation covers scanxiety, fight-or-flight responses, and the emotional side of recovery that can show up long after surgeries are done. From nervous system regulation to unexpected body image struggles, Marisa shares how the body continues to process medical stress even when life looks “back to normal” on the outside.If you’ve experienced preventative surgery, mastectomy recovery, reconstruction, hereditary cancer risk, or life after cancer, this episode offers connection and validation around the emotional layers of healing that often come next. It’s for anyone learning how to feel safe in their body again while navigating life after BRCA, colon cancer recovery, or major health decisions.Founding PartnerThis episode is brought to you by our founding partner, Auntie Tats’s Candle Shoppe.Each candle is hand-poured in small batches using clean, thoughtful ingredients like beeswax and coconut wax. No harsh chemicals, just soft, calming scents that help you slow down, breathe a little deeper, and feel more grounded in your space.And if you’ve been walking through recovery, grief, health anxiety, or big life transitions, you already know how important those quiet moments are.Find them at www.auntietatsscandleshoppe.com and on Instagram @auntietatsscandles—woman-owned and proudly supporting this community.

🎙️ Episode DescriptionMarisa sits down with the two women behind the powerful film Love, Danielle—actor, writer, and producer Devin Sidell and executive producer Amy Byer Shainman for an honest, thoughtful conversation about the emotional side of hereditary cancer, identity, healing, and what it really means to rebuild your life after a life-changing diagnosis.🎬 About the FilmWhen Danielle, a happily married thirty-something, tests positive for a BRCA1 gene mutation, she learns that this puts her at a very high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Thanks a lot, DNA.She struggles to carry on with daily life working at her bakery with her husband Pat and hanging out with her well-meaning but clueless friends—while watching her older sister Amy undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer. Danielle begins to face the weight of a life-altering decision: whether to preemptively remove her “ticking time bomb” breasts and reproductive organs before cancer has a chance to strike.Her decision-making process is layered with flashbacks to a complicated childhood, anesthesia-induced dreams, and difficult confrontations with her recovering alcoholic mother and self-absorbed television-star father. Ultimately, Danielle must learn how to prioritize her health, her future, and herself.🎥 Where to Watch Love, DanielleYou can stream Love, Danielle on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and YouTube, or purchase a DVD copy.The film is also available for educational licensing through SWANK.com.Love, Danielle is currently being utilized by conferences and educational settings and is often paired with live Q&A sessions with Devin Sidell and Amy Byer Shainman for patient and provider education and empathy training.To license the film, visit SWANK.com and request a quote.🌸 Meet the Women Behind the FilmDevin Sidell is an actor, writer, and producer who received her B.A. from Princeton University before returning to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film, television, and theatre. She has appeared on Malcolm in the Middle, The O.C., NUMB3RS, Ray Donovan, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, NCIS, Mayans MC, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and in Rob Zombie’s feature film 31 (Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival). Devin is also a recurring sketch performer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!A BRCA1 mutation carrier with a family history of breast and ovarian cancers, Devin chose to undergo both a preventative double mastectomy and preventative hysterectomy/oophorectomy in 2017 — earning her the label of “previvor.”Amy Byer Shainman is a BRCA1 carrier, previvor, advocate, author, and film producer dedicated to educating and empowering individuals and families affected by hereditary cancer syndromes. Known as BRCA Responder, she is the executive producer of the award-winning films Love, Danielle and Pink and Blue: Colors of Hereditary Cancer, and the author of the award-winning medical memoir Resurrection Lily: The BRCA Gene, Hereditary Cancer & Lifesaving Whispers from the Grandmother I Never Knew. Amy brings clarity, compassion, and visibility to the hereditary cancer community through storytelling and lived experience.💗 Connect & Learn MoreFollow the film and its creators:Film: @lovedanielle.filmAmy: @BRCAresponderDevin: @devin.sidell www.devinsidell.comWebsite: www.lovedaniellefilm.com

Ovarian cancer risk changes the way you think about your body and your future in ways that reach far beyond a medical chart.In this episode, Marisa shares the deeply personal story behind one of the hardest decisions she has ever had to make. She opens up about choosing a salpingectomy to reduce her ovarian cancer risk while protecting her hormones, her long-term health, and her quality of life.She walks through the appointment that left her gutted, the information that completely changed her plan, and the doctors who helped her slow down instead of rush into life-altering surgery. She also speaks honestly about the emotional weight of making permanent decisions around fertility, menopause, and your body while still healing from everything your body has already been through.This decision affects so much more than risk reduction. It can change timelines, future plans, and even what you thought your life might look like.This is not a medical lecture. It is a real conversation about choice, grief, relief, second opinions, and choosing a path that honors both your life and your body.

I’ve never really loved New Year’s Eve. Even as a kid, it always made me feel a little sad, like I could feel time moving before I really understood what that meant. And after my diagnosis, that feeling changed into something deeper. Suddenly, a new year wasn’t about becoming better or fixing myself. It was about being here. Still breathing. Still holding my kids. Still getting another chance at a life I once wasn’t sure I would have.In this episode, I open up about the moment I realized that even after surviving, I was still quietly postponing my life...waiting for after surgery, after recovery, after the next scan, and after the fear calmed down, while life was happening all around me.We talk about what it’s really like to live with BRCA, genetic mutations, and hereditary cancer risk. How your relationship with your body changes. How time feels louder. How joy can start to feel risky. And how easy it is to stay in survival mode long after the bravest choices have already been made.If you’ve ever looked “fine” on the outside but felt like you were still living in the middle of everything on the inside… this episode is for you.You’re not behind. You’re healing. And you don’t have to wait for “after” to start living.This is your permission to choose life — right now. 🤍

Three days before Christmas in December 2022, my world shifted.In this episode, I share what it was really like to receive heavy medical news during the holidays, before there was a plan, answers, or clarity. Just fear, uncertainty, and the pressure to keep showing up while the rest of the world was celebrating.This conversation isn’t just about one diagnosis. It’s about navigating medical uncertainty during the holidays...whether you’re waiting on results, facing a genetic mutation, preparing for preventative surgery, recovering from treatment, or sitting in that uncomfortable in-between where nothing is clear yet.I talk about the shock of unexpected test results, hearing difficult news confirmed out loud, and the loneliness that can exist even when you’re surrounded by people. About smiling through gatherings while your mind is somewhere else. About carrying something heavy while trying to protect the joy around you.If this season feels harder than it looks, this episode is for you. We talk about giving yourself grace, letting the holidays be different, saying no when you need to, and protecting your peace when everything already feels like too much.You’re not doing the holidays wrong.You’re just navigating something really hard — and you’re not alone. 🤍