Are you aware of your family's cancer history? Did you know genetic testing for cancer markers can save your life? I’m diving into these questions with Patient Insights & Advocacy Advisor at the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Ilana Feuchter. As a stage 2C ovarian cancer survivor, Ilana is dedicated—both personally and professionally—to raising awareness of genetic testing and self-advocacy. In this episode, she’s sharing her journey with BRCA1, what steps she took to be proactive about her cancer risks (and what they revealed), and the importance of knowing your family cancer history in order to be the BEST advocate for yourself. 

We’re exploring:

• Why BRCA1 and BRCA2 are problematic for women AND men
• Ilana’s choice to undergo a prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy (and later a prophylactic mastectomy)
• How a surprise ovarian cancer diagnosis changed the trajectory of her life
• Why you can never say you are cancer free with ovarian cancer 
• What still needs to be addressed in the survivorship journey
• A SURPRISING statistic about genetics and ovarian cancer (and what this means for anyone with a family history)
• Ilana’s TOP TIP to find your people and make your cancer journey easier
• One of the silver linings to her cancer journey
• And so much more!
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