Twisting Fate: My Journey with BRCA - from Breast Cancer Doctor to Patient and Back

Twisting Fate: My Journey with BRCA - from Breast Cancer Doctor to Patient and Back

Author: Pamela Munster

Publisher: The Experiment, LLC

Published: 2018-09-25

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13: 1615195149

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From a woman who’s made her living researching breast cancer—and who lived through it herself—a personal yet practical guide to the medical and emotional facets of this life-changing diagnosis A leading oncologist at the University of California San Francisco, Dr. Pamela Munster has advised thousands of women on how to cope with the realities of breast cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. But her world turned upside down when, at forty-eight years old and in otherwise perfect health, she got a call saying that her own mammogram showed “irregularities.” That single word thrust her into a wholly new role—as patient, and not only that of cancer but of the feared BRCA gene mutation as well. Suddenly, she realized that being a true “expert” in a disease was far beyond the scope of her medical training, and that she had a lot to learn if she wanted to hold onto her precious life. Weaving together her personal story with groundbreaking research on BRCA—responsible for breast cancer and many other inherited cancers affecting both women and men—Twisting Fate is an inspiring guide to living with the uncertainties of cancer. With authority, insight, and compassion, Dr. Munster uses her voice to create a safe space for genuine healing and honesty in a world otherwise too-often dominated by fear—and she is living proof of how important it is to embrace all the twists and turns of fate.


Twisting Fate: My Journey with BRCA - from Breast Cancer Doctor to Patient and Back

Twisting Fate: My Journey with BRCA - from Breast Cancer Doctor to Patient and Back

Author: Pamela Munster

Publisher: The Experiment, LLC

Published: 2018-09-25

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13: 1615195149

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

From a woman who’s made her living researching breast cancer—and who lived through it herself—a personal yet practical guide to the medical and emotional facets of this life-changing diagnosis A leading oncologist at the University of California San Francisco, Dr. Pamela Munster has advised thousands of women on how to cope with the realities of breast cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. But her world turned upside down when, at forty-eight years old and in otherwise perfect health, she got a call saying that her own mammogram showed “irregularities.” That single word thrust her into a wholly new role—as patient, and not only that of cancer but of the feared BRCA gene mutation as well. Suddenly, she realized that being a true “expert” in a disease was far beyond the scope of her medical training, and that she had a lot to learn if she wanted to hold onto her precious life. Weaving together her personal story with groundbreaking research on BRCA—responsible for breast cancer and many other inherited cancers affecting both women and men—Twisting Fate is an inspiring guide to living with the uncertainties of cancer. With authority, insight, and compassion, Dr. Munster uses her voice to create a safe space for genuine healing and honesty in a world otherwise too-often dominated by fear—and she is living proof of how important it is to embrace all the twists and turns of fate.


Resurrection Lily

Resurrection Lily

Author: Amy Byer Shainman

Publisher: Archway Publishing

Published: 2018-12-05

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 1480867071

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Resurrection Lily shares a story of inheritance and intuition, of what can surface in the body and the spirit when linked by DNA. As Amy Byer Shainman discovers she has inherited a BRCA gene mutation that puts her at high risk of developing certain cancers, she struggles to come to terms with preventively removing her breasts when she does not have a breast cancer diagnosis. Through her experience making decisions about her health, Amy becomes invigorated with purpose and establishes herself as a leading advocate for those with BRCA and other hereditary cancer syndromes, tirelessly working to educate others facing the same daunting reality. Painting a timely and moving portrait of what it feels like to carry a BRCA gene mutation, Resurrection Lily provides firsthand insight into the patient experience. Weaved throughout Amy’s open and vulnerable story is the expertise of her doctors, education from top medical experts in cancer genetics, and whispered lifesaving guidance from her grandmother Lillian.


Understanding BRCA

Understanding BRCA

Author: Clarissa Foster

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781781611203

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"Do you have a close relative who has died from, or is experiencing, aggressive breast, ovarian or prostate cancer? Have they been tested for the BRCA gene mutation? Have you? At the age of 35 and following the death of her mother from ovarian cancer, Clarissa Foster was found to carry a harmful mutation in the BRCA2 gene which drastically increased her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. She searched for a book that would help her to understand the full extent of what it meant to carry a harmful mutation, the options available to her to lower her risk and, most importantly, how it would feel to undergo risk-reducing surgery. Finding nothing that answered her needs, she set about reading all the available medical literature and liaising with relevant medical professionals to answer her questions. This book is the result of that research and of the decision she took based on it – to have a bilateral mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. Within the context of her own painful experience of family cancer and of elective surgery, Clarissa explains what the BRCA mutation is, what it signifies, what the individual’s choices are and what the fall out can be in terms of a woman’s body image, identity and sexual functioning."--Publisher's description.


Dangerous Boobies

Dangerous Boobies

Author: Caitlin Brodnick

Publisher: Seal Press

Published: 2017-09-12

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 1580056768

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After watching too many family members die of cancer, at age 28, public speaker and comedian Caitlin Brodnick was tested for the BRCA1 gene mutation and tested positive, indicating an 87% chance she'd likely be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. She had a preventative double mastectomy, thereby becoming an everywoman's Angelina Jolie. Dangerous Boobies: Breaking Up with My Time-Bomb Breasts goes in depth into her experience from testing to surgery and on to recovery. With a warm, funny, and approachable voice, Caitlin tells readers the full story, even sharing what it was like to go from a size 32G bra -- giant, for a woman who is barely over five feet tall! -- to a 32C. Engaging and open, she admits to having hated her breasts long before her surgery, and enjoying the process of "designing" her new breasts, from the shape of the breasts to the size and color of the nipples. While Caitlin's primary narrative explores the BRCA gene and breast cancer, her story is also one about body acceptance and what it takes to be confident with and in charge of one's body. Her speaking engagements and comedy routines have shown that the wider topic of breasts, breast size, and personal identity is resonating with younger readers.


What If You Could Skip the Cancer?

What If You Could Skip the Cancer?

Author: Katrina Bos

Publisher:

Published: 2017-09-07

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 9781773700601

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Why do we get cancer? Is it all just carcinogens and unlucky genetics? The answer is no. This book delves into the underlying reasons why some of us get cancer while others do not, and explains many of the mysteries of why we get sick. Why is a cancer diagnosis a death sentence for some and a life-changing opportunity for others? What allows some people, when given weeks or days to live, to be happy and healthy for decades to come? Most importantly, what lessons can we learn from those who have beaten illness, so that we can live happily and healthily without ever having to get sick?


Breast Cancer Genes and the Gendering of Knowledge

Breast Cancer Genes and the Gendering of Knowledge

Author: Sahra Gibbon

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2006-12-14

Total Pages: 230

ISBN-13: 0230626556

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The book examines the social and cultural context of new genetic knowledge associated with breast cancer. It looks at how this knowledge and technologies are used and received in two contrasting social arenas - cancer genetic clinics and a breast cancer research charity.


Brave New Medicine

Brave New Medicine

Author: Cynthia Li

Publisher: Reveal Press

Published: 2019-09-01

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 1684032067

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In this revelatory memoir, Doctor Cynthia Li shares the truth about her disabling autoimmune illness, the limitations of Western medicine, and her hard-won lessons on healing—mind, body, and spirit. Li had it all: a successful career in medicine, a loving marriage, children on the horizon. But it all came crashing down when, after developing an autoimmune thyroid condition, mysterious symptoms began consuming her body. Test after test came back "within normal limits," baffling her doctors—and baffling herself. Housebound with two young children, Li began a solo odyssey from her living room couch to find a way to heal. Brave New Medicine details the physical and existential crisis that forces a young doctor to question her own medical training. She dives into the root causes of her illness, learning to unlock her body's innate intelligence and wholeness. Li relates her story with the insight of a scientist, and the humility and candor of a patient, exploring the emotional and spiritual shifts beyond the physical body. Millions of people worldwide are affected by autoimmune disease. While complex conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are gaining attention, patients struggling with these mysterious ailments remain largely dismissed by their doctors, families, and friends. This is the harsh reality that doctor-turned-"difficult patient" Li faced firsthand. Drawing on cutting-edge science, ancient healing arts, and the power of intuition, this memoir offers support, validation, and a new perspective for doctors and patients alike. Through her story, you can find the wisdom and heart to start your own healing journey, too.


After Breast Cancer

After Breast Cancer

Author: Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW

Publisher: Bantam

Published: 2008-11-26

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 0307481204

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As women quickly discover, their life when treatment ends is very different from what it was before their diagnosis. Often exhausted, anxious, and emotionally volatile, they are beset by physical discomforts, fearful of intimacy, afraid for their children, worried about recurrence. Anticipating a return to “normalcy,” they discover that the old version of normal no longer applies. There could be no more knowledgeable guide for women embarking on this complicated journey than Hester Hill Schnipper, who is herself both an experienced oncology social worker and a breast cancer survivor. This comprehensive handbook provides jargon-free information on the wide range of practical issues women face as they navigate the journey back to health, including: •Managing physical problems such as fatigue, hot flashes, and aches and pains •Handling relationships: your children, your partner, your parents, your friends. •How to regain emotional and sexual intimacy •Coping with financial and workplace issues •Genetic testing: why, whether, when •How to move beyond the fear of recurrence •And much more This indispensable book will help you rediscover your capacity for joy as you move forward into the future—as a survivor.


Digital Mammography

Digital Mammography

Author: Peter Hogg

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-02-17

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 3319048317

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This book offers a single publication to be utilised comprehensively as a reference manual within current mammographic clinical practice for use by assistant practitioners and practitioners as well as trainees in radiography and related disciplines. In recent years mammographic clinical practice and technology have evolved rapidly and become increasingly sophisticated, this book will cover these issues. The public feel increasingly empowered to ‘have a say’ in their care and expectations of their mammography experience is high. Consequently a well-trained, well-informed practitioner is of paramount importance in clinical practice today. This book addresses patient/client-related issues in the form of psychological and emotional support they may require. This will enable the reader to gain insight into the patient/client perspective and thereby assist in meeting their needs.