Dana Farengo Clark

July 7, 2020

With Telemedicine, Genetic Counselors Are Reaching More Patients — and Their Families

By Dana Farengo Clark, M.S., LCGC, and Beth Fand Incollingo Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March, many patients have become a...

Tiffani DeMarco

June 3, 2020

Long After Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer Risk, Should Some Consider Screening Again?

By Tiffani A. DeMarco, M.S., CGC Genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer risk have been integral to patient care for many years. The p...

Connie Busch

May 5, 2020

Decades after being tested for hereditary risk, two women — who had the same doctor — discovered they got the wrong results.

By Katie Kosko Maureen Boesen and Connie Busch are forever connected, but it’s not the type of bond either would ever have imagined. Each learned...

Karen Hurley

April 7, 2020

For Those with Predispositions to Cancer, COVID-19 Adds ‘A Second Helping of Stress’

By Beth Fand Incollingo People who know they’re genetically predisposed to cancer already live with risk, and their fear and uncertainty have lik...

Chaya Possick

March 3, 2020

Motherhood Affects Decisions About Preventive Surgery in Women with BRCA Gene Mutations

By Beth Fand Incollingo Doctors should understand that motherhood is an important factor in health decisions for women with BRCA gene mutations and...

Anne Weber

February 4, 2020

How Genetic Testing Saved One Woman’s Life

By Katie Kosko Anne Weber had no family history of breast or ovarian cancer, nor had she ever heard of a BRCA gene mutation. But, now 39 years old,...

Eleanor Griffith

January 7, 2020

What Happens After Genetic Testing? A Podcast Illuminates a Challenging Road

By Beth Fand Incollingo Genetic testing and counseling can mark the beginning of a challenging journey. After counseling, people with a heredita...

Jean Jones

December 10, 2019

Surviving Hereditary Stomach Cancer Takes a Family Effort

At a very young age, I knew I faced a high risk of breast cancer. My mom had it, as did her mother and three of her four sisters. MY OB-GYN was intere...

Tamara Rodriguez

November 26, 2019

Taking the Bad with the Good

As I approach five years since my breast cancer diagnosis, I reflect on how my life has changed. I realize that, in some ways, it has gotten better. ...

Kristen Carbone

November 19, 2019

Before Genetic Testing, Take Time to Plan

In 2003, when my mother, Lisa, and I first talked about getting genetic testing, my thoughts were only about her. She’d beaten an early breast cance...

Roberta Lombardi

October 29, 2019

Choosing A Legacy of Hope

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of 2016 after I found a lump during a routine self-exam. On some level, I was not surprised. My father...

CURE Magazine

October 15, 2019

The Need for Patient Advocacy in Genetic Testing Follow-Up

While genetic testing can be complex to begin with, having patients advocate for themselves to have these results re-interpreted over time – given t...

Shannon Pulaski

October 1, 2019

It’s Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week – Let’s talk about Preventative Care and the Power of Support

I’m driving down a pleasant, tree lined road, but my stomach is in knots as I drive around the bend. The building is right before the highway. If I ...

CURE Magazine

September 17, 2019

Podcast: Navigating Life After Breast Cancer Brilliantly

  In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Brilliantly founder Kristen Carbone about her family risk for canc...

CURE Magazine

August 20, 2019

Remaining Ever Vigilant

Three years ago, I received a call from a geneticist explaining that, unfortunately, my blood sample showed that I had Lynch syndrome. Those of us wit...

Kim Horner

August 6, 2019

Talking To My 9-Year-Old Before My Risk-Reducing Double Mastectomy

My son, Leo, was in diapers when I tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation. My grandmother and great-grandmother died of breast cancer in their 40’s...

CURE Magazine

July 23, 2019

My Decision to Have a Double Mastectomy Without Reconstruction

BY MYRNA CHANDLER GOLDSTEIN It all began with a simple phone message. “There was a problem with your mammogram. You need further testing. Pl...

CURE Magazine

July 9, 2019

‘Out of the Blue’ Diagnosis Linked to a Family History of Cancer Now Empowers Others

A breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 33 that felt like it was “out of the blue” led to the creation of Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (...

CURE Magazine

June 25, 2019

Study Highlights Need for Patient Reporting of Family Cancer History

In assessing the quality of family cancer historyentered into electronic health records, researchers found that such reporting was suboptimal – high...

CURE Magazine

June 11, 2019

Former ‘SNL’ Comedian Publishes a Children’s Book About Supporting Friends Through Illness

Comedian Vanessa Bayer spent most of high school receiving treatment for leukemia, and she found endless humor in the situation. In fact, she and her ...

CURE Magazine

May 28, 2019

23, BRCA and Me

At-home DNA testing kits have become very popular and for good reason. The tests are affordable (usually in the $50 to $200 range) and are easy to per...

Starr Mautner

May 13, 2019

I got it from my mama

In honor of Mother’s Day, it is time to reflect on all of the things you inherited from your mom- maybe it’s her eye color, intelligence, height, ...

CURE Magazine

May 1, 2019

Living Your Breast Life: Genetic & Genomic Testing for Minority Women

BY SUSAN G. KOMEN GREATER NEW YORK CITY Although Minority Health Awareness Month is drawing to an end, the fight for equity in health care isn�...

Shannon Pulaski

April 16, 2019

Learning the Language

Shannon Pulaski, founder of Proactive Genes, discusses how she learned of her own family's hereditary cancer risk after her mother's physician recomme...

CURE Magazine

April 9, 2019

Humor Heals

Heather Tolley-Bauer is a wife, mother, comedian and colon cancer survivor — the latter a title she never expected to hold at the age of 45. In 2...

Ashley Dedmon

April 2, 2019

Talking About Family Cancer Risk

Proactive Genes: Can you describe your family's experience with breast cancer? Ashley Dedmon:Breast cancer impacted three generations of women in m...

CURE Magazine

March 26, 2019

Despite Common Misconception, Genetic Testing Is Beneficial For All With Breast Cancer

By Brielle Benyon Many people believe that genetic testing for cancer can only be beneficial for individuals with a strong family history of the di...

CURE Magazine

March 19, 2019

Reflections on Life After Two Prophylactic Surgeries

WHEN AMY BYER SHAINMAN’S sister Jan received a uterine and ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2008, Jan was not advised to undergo genetic testing. However...

CURE Magazine

March 12, 2019

Taking Control of One’s Family Health History

At CURE’s patient-focused meeting, held at the 36th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference, Ellen Matloff president and CEO of My Gene Counsel, and S...

Shannon Pulaski

March 5, 2019

First Tool in the Toolbox

Shannon Pulaski discusses the first tool in the Proactive Genes toolbox: "Mom's Genes." "It's intended for small children to be a conversation star...

CURE Magazine

February 26, 2019

Podcast: At-Home Genetic Testing: Dispelling Fact vs Fiction

With the flood of information available on genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk, there is still an abundance of misinformation that exists regar...

Maureen Boesen

February 19, 2019

My Genetic Test Results Were Wrong

In this blog, Maureen Boesen discusses her experience in learning her genetic test results were, in fact, wrong about being BRCA positive. This blog ...

CURE Magazine

February 12, 2019

Parenting After Breast Cancer

Anyone who works with survivors knows that women with children face some of the biggest challenges when it comes to visualizing the future. This is be...

Shannon Pulaski

February 5, 2019

Finding Inspiration from Family

The inspiration to write a book is sometimes hard to come by. But for Mom's Genes author Shannon Pulaski, inspiration was right in front of her in the...

Shannon Pulaski

January 29, 2019

Positively Deleterious

My head started spinning as I left my genetic counselor’s office. There was just one word from that session that rang in my ears: positive. It wa...

Marisol Rosas

January 22, 2019

Talking to My Son About Hereditary Cancer

I first found out I had a genetic mutation a few months after my second son was born and my older son was barely 3 years old. Having lost my mother to...

CURE Magazine

January 15, 2019

Genetic Testing of Children for Lynch Syndrome

Genetic testing in children is a highly complex topic, and it is something I frequently think about because of my son. I would love to have my son gen...

Shannon Pulaski

January 8, 2019

The First Tool in the Toolbox

After finding a tremendous need within the community of families with genetic mutations, Shannon Pulaski chose to offer others a resource tool to help...

CURE Magazine

January 2, 2019

Podcast: Talking to Kids About Cancer

While never easy, opening the line of communication with children about a parent or caregiver’s cancer diagnosis can help children understand the pr...

CURE Magazine

December 26, 2018

Parenting, Interrupted: Three Tips on Being a Parent With Cancer

I cross paths with many parents newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer. In the midst of trying to wrap their heads around a cancer diagnosis, they are...

CURE Magazine

December 18, 2018

Podcast: A Long History of BRCA

Dating back to 1860 in Poland, three sisters’ journeys with the BRCA mutation isn’t exactly the claim to fame they were hoping for. Kathryn (Wi...

Jennifer Butler

December 11, 2018

Teaching Our Children About Colorectal Cancer

Rates of colorectal cancer have been on the rise for every generation born since 1950 - even affecting young people in their 30s, 20s and teens. While...

CURE Magazine

December 4, 2018

Love the Genes You’ve Got, But Get Them Tested, Too

I love fashion, and growing up, nothing was better than a good pair of jeans. They could be slimming, make you taller, hide your long torso with a rid...

CURE Magazine

November 27, 2018

Giving Tuesday: What You Need to Know

Giving Tuesday, an initiative launched in 2012, is a day celebrated globally with the goal of kicking off the charitable season through the power of s...

CURE Magazine

November 20, 2018

Legislation Seeks Medicare Recognition of Genetic Counselors to Expand Access to Care

In October, representatives Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA), in collaboration with the National Society of Genetic Counselors, introduced...

Leigh Floody

November 13, 2018

Lynch Syndrome: A Blessing in Disguise

Photo credit: Dana J. Palmer Photography From a young age, we fantasize about what we want to be when we grow up – an astronaut, a doctor, a police...

Shannon Pulaski

November 6, 2018

Fostering a Community to Start the Conversation

After finding a tremendous need within the community of families with genetic mutations, Shannon Pulaski chose to offer others a resource tool to help...

CURE Magazine

October 30, 2018

Discussing Hereditary Cancer Risk With Children

Genetic risk for cancer is random. For people who carry specific mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, there is a 50/50 chance they will pass that gene o...

CURE Magazine

October 23, 2018

Creating Mom’s Genes

One mother with a BRCA gene mutation has written a book to help parents discuss family health histories with their young children. When I was 27, my ...

Harvey Singer

October 16, 2018

Men to Boys: A Discussion of Hereditary Cancer with Your Children

In early 2008, I received a phone call from my sister informing me that after her third breast cancer diagnosis, she had decided to undergo genetic te...

Alejandra Campoverdi

October 9, 2018

Q&A with Alejandra Campoverdi

From the White House to raising awareness in her community, Alejandra Campoverdi is helping to empower women of color to have agency over their own he...

Shannon Pulaski

October 1, 2018

Podcast: Knowing Your Hereditary Risk

In 2010, history was made when a Congressional resolution was passed to declare the first-ever National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and ...

Shannon Pulaski

September 18, 2018

A Whisper and Then a Scream

One year ago, I shared my perspective of the initial moments of my mother's ovarian cancer diagnosis with Cure.  Today, I'd like to share it with the...

Sue Friedman

September 11, 2018

Cancer Doesn’t Run in My Family…Or Does It?

There’s a common misperception that only people with many family members with cancer should have genetic testing for an inherited mutation. Yet, the...

Tracy Milgram-Posner

September 4, 2018

Previvor Mom

There’s no doubt that being a Previvor is challenging. Although we have not been diagnosed with cancer, just knowing that someday out of the blue ca...

Shannon Pulaski

August 30, 2018

Podcast: Let’s Start a Conversation

Earlier this week I had the great opportunity to sit down with CURE Magazine for their CURE Talks Cancer Podcast to discuss the launch of Proactive Ge...

Amy Byer Shainman

August 27, 2018

Pioneering Women, Angelina Jolie and Mac and Cheese

I happen to be part of a generation of women who are the first in our families able to get ahead of our genes. We are a generation of women who, unlik...

Shannon Pulaski

August 20, 2018

Why I am starting a conversation with my kids about our family’s health history

When I was 27, I gave birth to twin girls. They were born exactly two months early. Ten days later, in that same hospital where my daughters rested in...