Early Detection Saved Me

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Marisa opens up about the early symptoms; she tried to rationalize the pain, the moments she was doubled over, and the day she saw blood in her stool and knew something was seriously wrong. She shares the raw truth about how easily she could have ignored the signs… and how that one decision to listen to her intuition changed everything.

You’ll hear her walk through her colon cancer diagnosis, the shock of discovering she carried the BRCA2 gene mutation, and how understanding her genetics helped her take back control of her health and her future. This episode is a reminder of how important it is to notice repeated symptoms, trust your gut, and speak up even when it feels uncomfortable.

You’ll also hear about the emotional side of advocating for yourself, the fear, the second-guessing, the frustration when providers dismiss concerns, and the courage it takes to say, “No, something isn’t right.”

Throughout the conversation, Marisa shares what early detection actually looks like across hereditary cancers.

She also discusses how many women struggle to access genetic testing through traditional providers and shares JScreen as a resource for those seeking clarity without barriers.

Through www.jscreen.org, listeners can order an at-home saliva kit, return it easily, and have it analyzed through Myriad Genetics’ gold-standard hereditary cancer panel, which includes BRCA1, BRCA2, and over 60 genes connected to cancers. A genetic counselor reviews results with you so you understand exactly what they mean for your life and your family.

Benefits of JScreen:

– No clinic wait-times

– No need to find your own prescriber

– Post-test genetic counseling

– Access to trusted, high-quality testing

– Easy for relatives to get tested too

– The right test with the right interpretation

The program fee is $49, and listeners can use promo code BRCAandBeyond10 for $10 off. Insurance is billed afterward, and many people pay $0 out-of-pocket. A $249 self-pay cap is available for those with high deductibles or who don’t meet traditional “criteria” for testing.

But at the heart of this episode, beyond any program or test, is a simple truth:

Listening to your body matters. Your genes matter. And early detection truly can save your life.

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