Article

Health Advocate Amy Byer Shainman Discusses Risk Management of Hereditary Cancers

When it comes to managing your risk of cancer, especially when dealing with a familial cancer risk, "what is right for one person, may not be right for another," says Amy Byer Shainman.

When it comes to managing your risk of cancer, especially when dealing with a familial cancer risk, "what is right for one person, may not be right for another," says Amy Byer Shainman.

Shainman had preventive surgeries after she found she was at high risk for breast and ovarian cancers due to a BRCA mutation. Several family members had been diagnosed with cancer, which led her to meet with a genetic counselor and receive genetic testing. She is now a health advocate for those at risk of hereditary-associated cancers and blogs at http://thebrcaresponder.blogspot.com.

"Get the education; what are your individual risks? What do they mean?" she advises. In addition to genetic counseling, weigh all your options, she suggsts, including possible chemoprevention, increased screening or preventive surgery.

Related Videos
Image of man with grey hair.
Image of woman with black hair.
Image of a smiling woman with brown hair.
Image of a woman with short brown hair, wearing glasses.
Image of man with brown hair.
Image of woman with blonde hair.
Image of a woman with brown shoulder-length hair, wearing a khaki colored blazer.
Image of a man wearing a black button-up shirt.
Image of man with black hair.
Image of a man with dark hair and some facial hair.
Related Content
Image of a smiling woman with brown hair.
December 20th 2024

How to Self Advocate When Insurance Says No to Cancer Treatment Coverage

Ashley Chan
When insurance denies coverage of cancer treatment, patients with cancer don’t need to take no for an answer, an expert explained.
cancer horizons logo: a white microphone on a navy blue background
March 11th 2024

Oncology Approvals, Psychological Outcomes for Survivors and an Ovarian Cancer Vaccine

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Last week we saw some FDA approvals come through, as well as research that explored the psychosocial outcomes of individuals who survived pediatric rhabdosarcoma.
Illustration of a breast with a tumor up close.
December 19th 2024

Enhertu May Help Preserve Quality of Life in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Kyle Doherty
Treatment with Enhertu showed favorable outcomes regarding health-related quality of life in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, regardless of brain metastases.
FDA, Cancer Vaccine Updates and a Misguiding of Breast Cancer Treatment
February 5th 2024

FDA, Cancer Vaccine Updates and a Misguiding of Breast Cancer Treatment

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
One cancer vaccine may still be years away from being available, a breast cancer test may be misguiding treatments for Black women and the review of two oncology regimens are being expedited by the FDA.
Image of Dr. Brandon Blue.
December 17th 2024

Black Patients With Myeloma Face Taste, Skin Side Effects from Talvey

Alex Biese
Black patients may be more affected by certain side effects from Talvey compared with White patients with multiple myeloma, an expert told CURE®.
Image of question marks.
December 16th 2024

Delivering Answers to Pressing Questions About Cancer

Mike Hennessy Jr.
At CURE, we remain steadfastly dedicated to providing our readers with answers about cancer research.