BRCA & Beyond

Living Proof: Tiffany Graham Charkosky on Lynch Syndrome, Loss, & Genetic Legacy

In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa sits down with author and Lynch Syndrome advocate Tiffany Graham Charkosky for an emotional and deeply honest conversation about genetic legacy, motherhood, grief, and learning how to live fully in the face of hereditary cancer risk. Tiffany shares her journey of losing her mother at just 11 years old before her family ever knew Lynch Syndrome was part of their story. Years later, after the loss of her uncle Jeff and the discovery of Lynch Syndrome within her family, Tiffany would learn she carried the same genetic mutation herself, all while pregnant with her second son. Together, Marisa and Tiffany discuss the emotional realities of living with Lynch Syndrome, navigating preventative surgeries, the grief and complexity surrounding family planning decisions, motherhood after diagnosis, and Tiffany’s experience participating in an immunotherapy trial aimed at suppressing tumors. They also dive into Tiffany’s powerful debut memoir, which explores love, loss, resilience, and what it means to move forward despite a difficult genetic legacy. Tiffany Graham Charkosky writes about motherhood, medicine, and health, with work featured in Oprah Daily, Literary Hub, Electric Literature, MUTHA Magazine, and more. She currently serves as Director of Arts & Culture at Cleveland Public Library and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, two sons, and dog. This episode is for anyone navigating Lynch Syndrome, hereditary cancer risk, genetic testing, preventative surgeries, grief, survivorship, or the emotional realities that come with living in the space between fear and hope. Connect with Tiffany: Tiffany Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tiffanygrahamcharkosky/] Tiffany Website [https://tiffanygrahamcharkosky.com/book] Purchase Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy: Order Here [https://www.amazon.com/Living-Proof-Defied-Genetic-Legacy/dp/1662532202/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FM93ESAB6QZ4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Eb7VIHChJnKg6a6KrzUAmw.ncryePRhq-aF7oCpjVPLjgSW4Iq8N2960Q_9JHYasgc&dib_tag=se&keywords=tiffany+graham+charkosky&qid=1749033552&sprefix=tiffany+graham+charkosky%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1] Topics Discussed: • Lynch Syndrome • Genetic testing & hereditary cancer risk • Losing a parent to cancer • Preventative hysterectomy • Pregnancy during diagnosis • Motherhood after genetic testing • Immunotherapy trials • Living with uncertainty • Memoir writing & advocacy • Family cancer history • Emotional impact of hereditary cancer syndromes ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Loneliness After Diagnosis: How Relationships Change

What happens after the diagnosis… when life around you starts moving again, but internally everything feels permanently changed? In this deeply honest episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa Stachelski opens up about the emotional loneliness that can follow a BRCA diagnosis, hereditary cancer risk, genetic mutations, cancer, preventative surgeries, and medical trauma. This conversation goes beyond the physical recovery and into the emotional reality so many people quietly carry after diagnosis. Marisa shares personal experiences navigating changing relationships, emotional isolation, tissue expander recovery, motherhood after surgery, survivorship, and the pressure to appear “strong” while mentally struggling underneath it all. From friendships becoming distant to feeling disconnected in everyday life, this episode explores how hereditary cancer and life-altering diagnoses can impact identity, relationships, mental health, and the way you experience the world around you. This episode is for anyone navigating: * BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations * Lynch syndrome * hereditary cancer syndromes * preventative mastectomy or reconstruction * survivorship or previvorship * life after cancer diagnosis * emotional recovery after surgery * relationship changes after trauma or illness * medical anxiety and isolation * If you’ve ever felt lonely after diagnosis, struggled with feeling misunderstood, or wondered why relationships can feel different after cancer or genetic testing, this episode will likely resonate deeply. 🎙️ BRCA & Beyond is a podcast about hereditary cancer, survivorship, previvorship, emotional healing, advocacy, and navigating life after diagnosis with honesty, vulnerability, and real conversation. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Sharsheret CEO Elana Silber on BRCA, Genetic Risk, & Family Support

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS… AFTER THE GENETIC TEST… AFTER THE DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT ENDS? In this powerful episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa sits down with Elana Silber, CEO of Sharsheret, to discuss how the organization is transforming support for individuals and families navigating BRCA mutations, hereditary cancer risk, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, preventative surgeries, IVF with PGT-M, and survivorship. Elana Silber has spent more than two decades leading Sharsheret’s life-saving support and education programs for women, men, and families facing cancer. Under her leadership, Sharsheret has grown from a small grassroots initiative into an internationally respected organization serving thousands each year across the United States, Israel, and beyond. Together, Marisa and Elana explore the emotional realities that often go unspoken after a BRCA diagnosis — including fear, family planning, difficult medical decisions, motherhood, mental health, and the gap between clinical care and real-life support. In this episode, they discuss: • BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations • Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer • Genetic testing and understanding family history • Preventative mastectomy and prophylactic surgery • IVF with PGT-M and family planning options • Peer support, grief, and mental health resources • Mastectomy recovery kits and Sharsheret’s Busy Boxes for children • How hereditary cancer impacts the entire family • Why emotional support matters just as much as medical care Elana also shares how Sharsheret provides free and confidential culturally relevant support, financial assistance, educational resources, genetic counseling, social work services, peer mentorship, survivorship support, and customized care kits for individuals and families navigating hereditary cancer and cancer treatment. This conversation is filled with honesty, education, compassion, and hope for anyone navigating hereditary cancer risk, considering genetic testing, supporting a loved one, or searching for trusted resources after a BRCA diagnosis. Learn more about Sharsheret at Sharsheret.org [https://sharsheret.org/] Or follow on Instagram @SharsheretOfficial [https://www.instagram.com/sharsheretofficial/] 🎙️ BRCA & Beyond is a podcast dedicated to hereditary cancer awareness, genetic mutations, previvorship, survivorship, advocacy, and the emotional realities of life before, during, and beyond genetic risk. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Genetic Mutation, New Doctors & Starting Over

What happens when you move over 1,000 miles away… and suddenly realize rebuilding your medical team means more than finding new doctors—it means confronting the reality that many parts of the healthcare system still lack basic education around what it means to care for a previvor. In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa shares the emotional and practical realities of starting over medically after relocating—leaving behind trusted specialists, navigating new insurance, rebuilding care from scratch, and coming face-to-face with a difficult truth: many primary care providers are not adequately equipped with even foundational knowledge about hereditary cancer syndromes, BRCA, or the long-term needs of previvors. This conversation dives into the grief of losing a carefully built medical team, the exhaustion of retelling your story, and the larger systemic gaps that often leave patients with genetic mutations doing far too much of the educating themselves. Inside this episode: • The emotional toll of leaving behind specialists who knew your history • Why moving with BRCA or hereditary cancer risk can feel medically overwhelming • The healthcare system gaps previvors often face • Why many primary care doctors lack basic education on hereditary cancer syndromes • The burden of self-advocacy when providers don’t fully understand your risk • How genetic counselors can help bridge critical gaps in care • Building a strategic medical roadmap after relocation This episode is not about blaming individual doctors—it’s about exposing a bigger issue: patients with BRCA, hereditary cancer syndromes, and complex medical histories deserve broader awareness, better physician education, and more informed care pathways. Because previvors should not have to be the ones teaching the healthcare system how to protect them. If you’ve ever felt like your medical complexity was bigger than the system designed to support it… this conversation is for you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From Diagnosis to Advocacy | Kathy Baker on BRCA, Genetic Testing & the Story Behind My Faulty Gene

What if one conversation, one decision, could change the way you think about your health forever? In this episode of BRCA and Beyond, I’m joined by Kathy Baker, founder and executive director of My Faulty Gene, a nonprofit focused on helping people access genetic testing and better understand their hereditary cancer risk. Kathy shares her personal journey through breast and ovarian cancer, the role BRCA testing played in her life, and how her experience led her to create an organization that is now helping others make more informed, empowered decisions. Her story is honest, thoughtful, and a reminder of how much clarity can come from simply having the right information. We talk about what genetic testing actually looks like, who should consider it, and how understanding your risk can open the door to proactive, personalized care. In this episode, we cover: • BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations and hereditary cancer risk • When and why to consider genetic testing • Navigating decisions around screening and preventative care • The impact of hereditary cancer on families • How My Faulty Gene is helping expand access to testing and education Kathy is also a cancer survivor and national advocate who serves on multiple advisory boards, using her voice to help others better understand their options and feel supported in the process. If you’ve ever wondered whether genetic testing is something you should explore, this conversation will give you a grounded place to start. Connect with My Faulty Gene Instagram @my_faulty_gene www.myfaultygene.org [http://www.myfaultygene.org] This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personal decisions. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.