Twisting Fate My Journey With Brca From Breast Cancer Doctor To Patient And Back

From a woman who’s made her living researching breast cancer—and who lived through it herself—a personal yet practical guide to the medical and emotional facets of this life-changing diagnosis A leading oncologist at the University of California San Francisco, Dr. Pamela Munster has advised thousands of women on how to cope with the realities of breast cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. But her world turned upside down when, at forty-eight years old and in otherwise perfect health, she got a call saying that her own mammogram showed “irregularities.” That single word thrust her into a wholly new role—as patient, and not only that of cancer but of the feared BRCA gene mutation as well. Suddenly, she realized that being a true “expert” in a disease was far beyond the scope of her medical training, and that she had a lot to learn if she wanted to hold onto her precious life. Weaving together her personal story with groundbreaking research on BRCA—responsible for breast cancer and many other inherited cancers affecting both women and men—Twisting Fate is an inspiring guide to living with the uncertainties of cancer. With authority, insight, and compassion, Dr. Munster uses her voice to create a safe space for genuine healing and honesty in a world otherwise too-often dominated by fear—and she is living proof of how important it is to embrace all the twists and turns of fate.

The first guide to all surgical and nonsurgical options for women with a high risk for breast cancer. Advances in genetic testing and risk assessment have changed the face of medicine, but with them has come a Pandora's box of dilemmas. Imagine discovering you had a significant risk for developing breast cancer. What would you do? Through the incredible true stories of five young friends, as well as interviews with more than seventy top breast cancer experts, health writer Dina Roth Port addresses the universal questions of women everywhere who have watched family members suffer from the disease and wondered, "Am I next?" Full of practical information, Previvors is the first comprehensive book to guide women through the difficult process of determining their risk, weighing the options, and coping with the emotions of deciding to undergo surgery. Readers will learn: •The pros and cons of getting tested for the BRCA gene •How to decide between surgical or nonsurgical options •The latest research in breast cancer surveillance •The advanced new world of breast reconstruction •How to overcome body image and sex issues post-surgery, and more From navigating health insurance coverage to finding the right medical team, Previvors is an invaluable resource for women facing decisions about their risk and future health. Watch a Video

"Do you have a close relative who has died from, or is experiencing, aggressive breast, ovarian or prostate cancer? Have they been tested for the BRCA gene mutation? Have you? At the age of 35 and following the death of her mother from ovarian cancer, Clarissa Foster was found to carry a harmful mutation in the BRCA2 gene which drastically increased her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. She searched for a book that would help her to understand the full extent of what it meant to carry a harmful mutation, the options available to her to lower her risk and, most importantly, how it would feel to undergo risk-reducing surgery. Finding nothing that answered her needs, she set about reading all the available medical literature and liaising with relevant medical professionals to answer her questions. This book is the result of that research and of the decision she took based on it – to have a bilateral mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. Within the context of her own painful experience of family cancer and of elective surgery, Clarissa explains what the BRCA mutation is, what it signifies, what the individual’s choices are and what the fall out can be in terms of a woman’s body image, identity and sexual functioning."--Publisher's description.

Resurrection Lily shares a story of inheritance and intuition, of what can surface in the body and the spirit when linked by DNA. As Amy Byer Shainman discovers she has inherited a BRCA gene mutation that puts her at high risk of developing certain cancers, she struggles to come to terms with preventively removing her breasts when she does not have a breast cancer diagnosis. Through her experience making decisions about her health, Amy becomes invigorated with purpose and establishes herself as a leading advocate for those with BRCA and other hereditary cancer syndromes, tirelessly working to educate others facing the same daunting reality. Painting a timely and moving portrait of what it feels like to carry a BRCA gene mutation, Resurrection Lily provides firsthand insight into the patient experience. Weaved throughout Amy’s open and vulnerable story is the expertise of her doctors, education from top medical experts in cancer genetics, and whispered lifesaving guidance from her grandmother Lillian.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and its prevalence has been steadily rising in recent decades. This book describes morphologic and kinetic signs that are important in the analysis of breast MR images before and after contrast administration and in various pulse sequences. It will help broaden the clinical application of MRM so that as many physicians as possible can make more accurate diagnoses.

This volume is unique in reporting on strategies for the application of molecular targeted imaging agents such as antibodies, peptides, receptors and contrast agents in the biologic grading of tumors, differential diagnosis of tumors, prediction of therapeutic response and monitoring tumor response to treatment. It also includes updated information on the imaging of tumor angiogenesis, hypoxia, apoptosis and gene delivery as well as expression in the understanding and utility of tumor molecular biology for better cancer management.

Unlike any other volume focusing on women’s health issues, this collection brings together a wealth of cross-disciplinary perspectives to bear on the intersection of breasts and medicine. Among other works on similar subject matters, the academic versatility of this volume is unparalleled. This collection can serve as a textbook in a wide range of courses including those in philosophy, women’s studies, biology, psychology, literature, history, and medicine.

This second edition has been updated in a user-friendly layout that makes its comprehensive information extremely accessible. The handbook, written for all physicians who treat cancer patients, provides a survey of current therapeutic concepts of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies in internal oncology. Each individual chapter of this shortened new edition is structured in the same way and features a brief outline or tabular summary of the main aspects of epidemiology, pathology, staging, and diagnosis. The main focus is on the therapeutic strategy, i.e., an interdisciplinary approach to systemic drug therapy. Surgical and radiological concepts of treatment are also covered, as are supportive care, pain relief methods and ethical problems. This title is a must for clinicians and practitioners as well as interns, residents and postgraduate students.