BRCA & Beyond

If you've been diagnosed with an ATM gene mutation, have a family history of breast cancer, or are wondering whether genetic testing could change your future, this conversation is for you.In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, I sit down with Krista Brown, MS, RN, CFNC, an oncology nurse navigator, breast cancer survivor, and hereditary cancer advocate. Krista shares her powerful journey after learning she carries an ATM gene mutation, how enhanced screening detected her Stage 1A breast cancer just weeks before her planned preventive mastectomy, and why she believes earlier access to genetic testing could have prevented her diagnosis.Krista is an Oncology Nurse Navigator in Phoenix, Arizona, with more than 14 years of nursing experience. As a breast cancer survivor and carrier of an ATM gene mutation, she's passionate about hereditary cancer education, genetic testing awareness, evidence-based prevention, and helping individuals and families make informed healthcare decisions.Together, we discuss hereditary cancer, inherited cancer risk, genetic counseling, breast cancer screening, prevention, advocacy, survivorship, and the emotional realities of living with a hereditary cancer gene mutation. We also talk about the gaps that still exist in patient education, why genetic testing matters, and how sharing our stories can create meaningful change for future families.Whether you're living with an ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, CHEK2, TP53, PTEN, CDH1, STK11, Lynch syndrome (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM), RAD51C, RAD51D, BARD1, NBN, BRIP1, or another hereditary cancer gene mutation, or you're supporting someone who is, this episode offers education, hope, and honest conversation.Follow Krista on Instagram:📲 @cancer.prevention.rn

Scanxiety is something almost everyone in the cancer and hereditary cancer community knows all too well but it's not talked about nearly enough.In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, I'm opening up about one of the hardest parts of living with BRCA, hereditary cancer risk, and life after a cancer diagnosis: the waiting.Waiting for test results.Waiting for pathology results.Waiting for biopsy results.Waiting for an MRI, CT scan, mammogram, colonoscopy, endoscopy, or genetic testing report to appear in your patient portal.That space between the test and the answer can feel overwhelming. The uncertainty, the fear, the endless "what ifs," and the way every phone notification makes your heart race... it's a kind of anxiety that deserves to be acknowledged.In this episode, I share my own experiences waiting for colon cancer pathology results, BRCA genetic testing, ongoing surveillance, and the emotional weight of living with recurring scans and appointments. We also talk about why common phrases like "try not to think about it," "no news is good news," and "I'm sure it's fine" often miss the mark—and what actually helps when someone you love is navigating scanxiety.Whether you're a previvor, cancer survivor, BRCA, PALB2, ATM, CHEK mutation carrier, living with Lynch syndrome or another hereditary cancer syndrome, or simply waiting for medical test results, I hope this conversation reminds you that what you're feeling is real—and that you don't have to carry it alone.If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you would leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help BRCA & Beyond reach more people who are searching for support, education, and honest conversations during some of life's hardest moments.I'd also love to connect with you! You can find me on Instagram:🩷 @BRCAandBeyond🩷 @MarisStacheThank you for being here and for allowing me to be part of your journey.

Career, job, and money struggles as a previvor or cancer survivor. A cancer diagnosis or genetic mutation finding, like BRCA or Lynch syndrome, changes more than your health; it changes your career, your job, and your income. This episode covers the real financial and professional cost of previvorship and survivorship that nobody prepares you for.Topics covered: building a career while managing surgeries, cancer treatment, surveillance, and genetic testing appointments. Explaining FMLA and medical leave to an employer who has never dealt with prophylactic surgery or a genetic mutation diagnosis. Missing promotions and job opportunities because of surgery or treatment timelines. Workplace discrimination fears for previvors and cancer survivors. Grieving the career you thought you would have.If you are a previvor, cancer survivor, or genetic mutation carrier trying to balance your health with your job and your career, this episode is for you.

What does it really mean to live with a BRCA1 gene mutation? How do you make life-changing decisions when hereditary cancer runs through your family?In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, I sit down with Kristen Jordan (@sheinheritsstrength), a wife, mother, nurse practitioner, and BRCA1 previvor, who shares her deeply personal journey through genetic testing, hereditary cancer risk, and preventative surgery.After experiencing devastating loss within her family, Kristen learned she carries the BRCA1 genetic mutation, significantly increasing her lifetime risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. She opens up about the emotional impact of discovering she was BRCA positive, navigating survivor's guilt, making difficult decisions about preventive surgery, and finding purpose through advocacy.Together, we discuss:• Living with a BRCA1 mutation• The importance of genetic testing and knowing your family history• Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk• Preventive mastectomy and hysterectomy decisions• Family history, grief, and survivor's guilt• Finding hope, resilience, and community after a hereditary cancer diagnosisWhether you've recently tested positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2, Lynch Syndrome, PALB2, Chek, ATM, or other genetic mutations; have a strong family history of cancer; are considering preventive surgery; or simply want to better understand hereditary cancer, Kristen's story is an honest reminder that knowledge is power—and that you don't have to walk this journey alone.Connect with Kristen:Instagram: @sheinheritsstrengthIf this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating a hereditary cancer journey. Together, we can raise awareness, encourage early detection, and help others feel seen, informed, and supported.

In this solo episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa talks about a message she received from someone in her past suggesting that because she is healthy now, she should move on from talking about cancer, genetic mutations, BRCA, surgeries, and the emotional weight of it all.That message opened up a much bigger conversation about what it really feels like to live with a genetic mutation, hereditary cancer risk, and cancer survivorship. For previvors, survivors, and genetic mutation carriers, there often is no clean finish line. The cancer may be gone. The surgery may be over. The scans may be clear. But the impact on your body, mind, family, children, relationships, and future does not simply disappear.Marisa shares why “healthy now” does not mean “done,” why being a cancer survivor continues to shape your life, and why choosing risk-reducing surgery can be one of the deepest ways someone chooses to live fully. She also talks about the pressure to stay positive, the hurt that comes from uninformed opinions, and how to protect your peace when people misunderstand what you are still carrying.This episode is for anyone who has ever been told to move on, stop talking about it, focus on the positive, or make “non-cancer related” memories. It is a reminder that moving forward does not have to mean staying silent.Topics discussed: genetic mutation, BRCA, hereditary cancer risk, cancer survivorship, previvor life, risk-reducing surgery, double mastectomy, salpingectomy, scan anxiety, family risk, motherhood, mental health, body image, boundaries, and life after cancer.

In this deeply personal episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa Stachelski takes listeners behind the scenes of her experience participating in the Dear Body Project through BRCAStrong, a powerful initiative that brings together twelve women impacted by hereditary cancer, BRCA mutations, breast cancer, and life-changing surgeries to celebrate their strength, resilience, and stories.What began as a boudoir photoshoot became so much more. Through shared conversations, tears, laughter, vulnerability, and connection, twelve women who entered the room as strangers found a community built on understanding, courage, and healing.Marisa opens up about her lifelong struggle with body image, being teased as a child, years of dieting and trying to make herself smaller, and how those invisible wounds followed her through her colon cancer diagnosis, BRCA2 mutation, preventive surgeries, double mastectomy, reconstruction, and recovery.She shares the powerful moment of watching each woman walk out of her private photography session transformed—not because anything about her body had changed, but because she had rediscovered confidence, pride, and a connection to herself that may have been buried beneath years of fear, medical appointments, scars, and survival.Marisa also reads her emotional “Dear Body” letter and reflects on what it means to finally move from criticism to gratitude, recognizing the very body she spent years trying to change was the same body that carried her through motherhood, cancer, surgeries, and healing.This episode is for every survivor, previvor, and woman who has ever struggled to see herself with kindness.Topics discussed:• BRCA & hereditary cancer awareness• Breast cancer and cancer survivorship• Colon cancer survivorship• Preventive mastectomy and breast reconstruction• Body image after cancer and surgery• Self-love, confidence, and emotional healing• The power of community and shared storiesFollow BRCAStrong on Instagram: @BRCAStrongLearn more about the Dear Body Project and BRCAStrong at BRCAStrong.org.

What happens after you learn you have a hereditary cancer risk?For many people, the answer is uncertainty. Genetic testing can provide important information, but it often leaves individuals wondering what to do next, which specialists to see, and how to navigate the emotional weight of the decisions ahead.In this episode, I sit down with Randi Eichenbaum, founder of MOTA, to talk about her personal journey, the gaps she saw in hereditary cancer support, and how those experiences led her to create a platform designed to help people navigate complex medical decisions with greater clarity and confidence.We discuss the unique challenges facing BRCA carriers and previvors, where traditional healthcare systems often fall short, and why having a personalized roadmap can make all the difference. Randi also shares how MOTA helps individuals understand their options, connect with trusted specialists, and feel supported throughout every stage of their journey.Whether you're navigating genetic testing, living with a BRCA mutation, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in improving patient advocacy and healthcare navigation, this conversation offers valuable insight and hope.About MOTAMOTA is a navigation and community platform for people with increased hereditary cancer risk, starting with women who carry a BRCA mutation. MOTA offers a personalized, guideline-based roadmap, vetted specialists, and a community that gets it. Built by a BRCA2+ survivor who created what she wished she'd had. Free at MOTA.care.Learn more: MOTA.careFollow MOTA on Instagram: @mota.careIn This EpisodeRandi's personal journey and what led her to create MOTAThe challenges facing individuals with hereditary cancer riskThe often-overlooked needs of previvorsWhat happens after genetic testingNavigating BRCA-related decisions with confidenceBuilding a personalized healthcare roadmapFinding support, resources, and trusted specialistsWhy no one should have to navigate hereditary cancer risk aloneIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from this conversation.

What happens after genetic testing?For many people, receiving a positive genetic test result is just the beginning. The real challenge often comes next: navigating uncertainty, making medical decisions, and having difficult conversations with the people you love.In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, I sit down with Dr. Marleah Dean Kruzel, a BRCA2 previvor, researcher, speaker, and Associate Professor whose work focuses on hereditary cancer, genetic risk communication, patient empowerment, and family communication. As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor and a BRCA2 carrier herself, Dr. Dean Kruzel has dedicated her career to helping patients, families, and healthcare providers navigate the complex realities of hereditary cancer risk. Together, we discuss:✨ The emotional side of genetic testing ✨ Why many people delay testing—even when they know they're at risk ✨ How hereditary cancer affects entire families, not just the person who tests positive ✨ Family communication and difficult conversations about inherited cancer risk ✨ What cascade testing is and why it can save lives ✨ How to approach relatives who may be hesitant to test ✨ Managing uncertainty as a BRCA previvor ✨ Practical strategies for talking with children and family members about genetic risk ✨ Why these conversations are not "one and done"Whether you carry a BRCA mutation, Lynch syndrome, CHEK2, PALB2, ATM, TP53, PTEN, or another hereditary cancer mutation, this episode offers practical guidance, validation, and hope for navigating genetic risk as a family.About Dr. Marleah Dean KruzelDr. Marleah Dean Kruzel is a health communication researcher, speaker, and BRCA2 previvor whose mission is to empower patients to better engage with clinicians, help clinicians communicate more effectively with patients, and translate research into meaningful tools that improve health outcomes. Her work focuses on hereditary cancer, patient engagement, managing uncertainty, health decision-making, and communication among patients, families, and healthcare providers. She has collaborated with organizations including FORCE and has received funding from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Cancer Society. Connect with Dr. Marleah Dean Kruzel📍 LinkedIn: Marleah Dean Kruzel on LinkedIn📍 Website: marleahdeankruzel.com📍 YouTube: Watch Dr. Dean Kruzel's TEDx Talk, How to Make Decisions in the Wake of Uncertainty, and explore Previvor Perspectives, a series she co-hosts with Sara Kavanaugh of The Positive Gene Podcast.

What if one of the biggest advocacy wins for the hereditary cancer community happened quietly… and most people never even heard about it?In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa breaks down the groundbreaking ICD-10 recognition recently granted for Lynch syndrome, BRCA1, BRCA2, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and why this could become one of the most important systemic changes hereditary cancer patients have seen in years.This conversation goes far beyond medical coding. It explores how hereditary cancer patients and previvors have spent years navigating healthcare systems that often had no clear category for them, impacting insurance coverage, preventative care, surveillance approvals, physician education, research funding, and long-term patient outcomes.Marisa explains:• What ICD-10 codes actually are (in normal language)• Why hereditary cancer patients have felt medically invisible• How BRCA, Lynch syndrome, and Li-Fraumeni patients were previously categorized• Why proper medical recognition changes healthcare infrastructure• Insurance denials and preventative screening barriers• The emotional reality of being “high risk but not sick”• Why advocacy is more than awareness posts• How this advocacy win could shape the future of hereditary cancer careIf you are navigating BRCA1, BRCA2, Lynch syndrome, hereditary cancer risk, preventative surgeries, cancer survivorship, previvorship, MRIs, colonoscopies, genetic testing, or insurance challenges, this episode is for you.This is one of the biggest behind-the-scenes hereditary cancer advocacy wins in recent years, and it has the potential to change how hereditary cancer patients are recognized across healthcare systems moving forward.SHOW NOTES:The new ICD-10 codes discussed in this episode are expected to take effect in September 2026.Fight CRC Announcement:https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/fight-crc-secures-icd-10-code-for-lynch-syndrome-brca-1-brca-2-li-fraumeni/Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer (CGA-IGC):https://www.cgaigc.com/post/fight-crc-and-cga-igc-members-help-advance-icd-10-recognition-for-lynch-syndromeFollow BRCA & Beyond for more conversations on hereditary cancer, BRCA mutations, Lynch syndrome, survivorship, previvorship, advocacy, genetic testing, and navigating life after life-changing diagnoses.