Facing The Unknown A Previvor S Path To Wellness

In "Facing the Unknown: A Previvor's Path to Wellness," join author Keisha Brown on a courageous and transformative journey of self-discovery. This powerful memoir delves into the author's personal odyssey, marked by resilience, strength, and the pursuit of wellness after facing the life-altering decision of undergoing a bilateral double mastectomy. As a previvor, Keisha shares her intimate experiences, providing a heartfelt account of the emotional and physical challenges that come with such a profound decision. Through eloquent storytelling, she navigates the complexities of living as a previvor, shedding light on the emotional rollercoaster, moments of doubt, and the triumphs of self-empowerment. This book is not just a memoir; it's a guide for those who may be walking a similar path, offering insights into coping mechanisms, wellness practices, and the importance of embracing one's own body. Delving into the intricacies of post-mastectomy life, Keisha addresses topics such as self-care, mental health, and the transformative power of self-love. Embark on a transformative narrative that transcends the boundaries of a traditional memoir, as "Facing the Unknown" empowers readers to embrace their own journeys and find strength in the face of uncertainty. This book is for: Previvors and Survivors: Individuals who have undergone or are contemplating a bilateral double mastectomy, as well as those navigating the challenges of life as a previvor. Patients and Families Facing Similar Decisions: Individuals facing decisions related to mastectomy or other significant medical procedures, along with their families and support networks seeking understanding and guidance. Healthcare Professionals: Medical professionals, including surgeons, oncologists, and mental health practitioners, who want insights into the emotional and psychological aspects of patients undergoing such surgeries. Support Groups and Communities: Members of support groups and communities focused on breast cancer, mastectomy, and previvorship looking for shared experiences and inspiration. Advocacy Organizations: Organizations dedicated to breast health, cancer awareness, and previvor support, seeking narratives that raise awareness and provide valuable perspectives. General Readers Interested in Personal Growth: Individuals interested in personal growth, resilience, and self-discovery, as the book goes beyond medical aspects to explore universal themes of strength and empowerment. Women's Health and Wellness Enthusiasts: Readers interested in women's health, wellness practices, and narratives that emphasize self-care and self-love. Media and Journalists: Journalists, bloggers, and media professionals covering health, wellness, and personal stories, seeking impactful narratives for their audiences.

Weaving together family history, genetic discovery, and scenes from her life, Ami McKay tells the compelling, true-science story of her own family's unsettling legacy of hereditary cancer while exploring the challenges that come from carrying the mutation that not only killed many people you loved, but might also kill you. The story of Ami McKay's connection to a genetic disorder called Lynch syndrome begins over seventy years before she was born and long before scientists discovered DNA. In 1895 her great-great aunt, Pauline Gross, a seamstress in Ann Arbor, Michigan, confided to a pathology professor at the local university that she expected to die young, like so many others in her family. Rather than dismiss her fears, the pathologist chose to enlist Pauline in the careful tracking of those in her family tree who had died of cancer. Pauline's premonition proved true--she died at 46--but because of her efforts, her family (who the pathologist dubbed 'Family G') would become the longest and most detailed cancer genealogy ever studied in the world. A century after Pauline's confession, researchers would identify the genetic mutation responsible for the family's woes. Now known as Lynch syndrome, the genetic condition predisposes its carriers to several types of cancer, including colorectal, endometrial, ovarian and pancreatic. In 2001, as a young mother with two sons and a keen interest in survival, Ami McKay was among the first to be tested for Lynch syndrome. She had a feeling she'd test positive: her mother's side of the family was riddled with early deaths and her own mother was being treated for the disease. When the test proved her fears true, she began living in "an unsettling state between wellness and cancer," and she's been there ever since. Intimate, candid, and probing, her genetic memoir tells a fascinating story, teasing out the many ways to live with the hand you are dealt.

Award-winning physician and New York Times bestselling author Sharon Moalem, MD, PhD, reveals how genetic breakthroughs are completely transforming our understanding of both the world and our lives. Inheritance Conventional wisdom dictates that our genetic destiny is fixed at conception. But Dr. Moalem's groundbreaking book shows us that the human genome is far more fluid and fascinating than your ninth grade biology teacher ever imagined. By bringing us to the bedside of his unique and complex patients, he masterfully demonstrates what rare genetic conditions can teach us all about our own health and well-being. In the brave new world we're rapidly rocketing into, genetic knowledge has become absolutely crucial. Inheritance provides an indispensable roadmap for this journey by teaching you: -Why you may have recovered from the psychological trauma caused by childhood bullying-but your genes may remain scarred for life. -How fructose is the sugar that makes fruits sweet-but if you have certain genes, consuming it can buy you a one-way trip to the coroner's office. -Why ingesting common painkillers is like dosing yourself repeatedly with morphine-if you have a certain set of genes. -How insurance companies legally use your genetic data to predict the risk of disability for you and your children-and how that impacts the coverage decisions they make for your family. -How to have the single most important conversation with your doctor-one that can save your life. And finally: -Why people with rare genetic conditions hold the keys to medical problems affecting millions. In this trailblazing book, Dr. Moalem employs his wide-ranging and entertaining interdisciplinary approach to science and medicine-- explaining how art, history, superheroes, sex workers, and sports stars all help us understand the impact of our lives on our genes, and our genes on our lives. Inheritance will profoundly alter how you view your genes, your health--and your life.

Have you ever felt like a stranger in your own life? After a cancer diagnosis at age 21 and many subsequent experiences lived from a place of fear and anxiety, author Samantha Paige did for far too long. Over time, she learned to regularly ask herself: "How can I own my life and make my life my own?” By taking time for honest introspection and acknowledging these moments of disconnect, she began to make some significant decisions, or last cuts, to create a life with greater congruence between her inner and outer worlds. Through her own process of healing, Paige outlined seven universal steps to the last cut process. In LAST CUT, she vulnerably shares from her own story and frames these phases of self-discovery and growth in a clear framework so that anyone facing a moment of questioning within their own lives can relate to a shared journey.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE ROBBIE ROBERTSON DARTMOUTH BOOK AWARD and the EVELYN RICHARDSON NON-FICTION AWARD Previously published as Daughter of Family G Weaving together touching scenes from her family history and her own life, Ami McKay's intimate and captivating memoir captures what it means to live fully even when you know your life may be cut short. In 1895, Ami McKay's great-great aunt, a dressmaker named Pauline Gross, confided to a medical professor that she expected to die young, like many in her family before her. With her help, that doctor launched a family study that eventually led to the identification of the genetic mutation now known as Lynch syndrome, which predisposes its carriers to several types of cancer. In 2001, Ami was among the first to be tested for the syndrome. And now she's written the captivating story of how she, like her mother before her, learned to carry on with joy, with hope, and with a bold hunger for life in the face of an uncertain future. Ami writes of her childhood, "I listened to the women in my family tell stories of the past . . . sitting around the kitchen table with my mother, sometimes laughing until they cried, sometimes sobbing through words of grief. They spoke of relatives who lived before I was born—people who came from nothing, who faced great hardship, who died too young. The women in those tales stared down death, looked after the sick, and conversed with fate. They spread the truth through story, even when others didn't wish to hear it. This is how I learned that stories have power—to make sense of the world, to give voice to dreams, to nurture hope and banish fear."

A FRESH EXAMINATION OF PRECISION MEDICINE'S INCREASINGLY PROMINENT ROLE IN THE FIELD OF ONCOLOGY Precision medicine takes into account each patient's specific characteristics and requirements to arrive at treatment plans that are optimized towards the best possible outcome. As the field of oncology continues to advance, this tailored approach is becoming more and more prevalent, channelling data on genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and other areas into new and innovative methods of practice. Precision Medicine in Oncology draws together the essential research driving the field forward, providing oncology clinicians and trainees alike with an illuminating overview of the technology and thinking behind the breakthroughs currently being made. Topics covered include: Biologically-guided radiation therapy Informatics for precision medicine Molecular imaging Biomarkers for treatment assessment Big data Nanoplatforms Casting a spotlight on this emerging knowledge base and its impact upon the management of tumors, Precision Medicine in Oncology opens up new possibilities and ways of working – not only for oncologists, but also for molecular biologists, radiologists, medical geneticists, and others.