You Have a Higher Risk of Ovarian Cancer. Now What? (Ovarian Cancer Awareness Series, Part 1 of 9)

You have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Now what?

This is Episode 1 of 9 in our Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month series, where we spend September looking at ovarian cancer through the lens of hereditary cancer risk.

Host Marisa Stachelski, a BRCA2 previvor, colon cancer survivor, and your guide through hereditary cancer risk, breaks down what "increased risk" actually means once you get past the scary headline. BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, and Lynch syndrome can all raise ovarian cancer risk, but not by the same amount, not starting at the same age, and not with the same next steps. What applies to someone else's mutation may not apply to yours.

In this episode, Marisa covers:

• Why "increased risk" looks completely different depending on which gene is involved
• What your genetic testing report actually tells you (and why "positive" isn't enough detail)
• Why lifetime risk percentages aren't a countdown, and the better questions to ask your care team instead
• Why family history can point in either direction, including Marisa's own story of tracing BRCA2 through the men in her family
• The fallopian tube research reshaping ovarian cancer prevention, and why Marisa chose to have hers removed in 2024
• Why there's still no reliable ovarian cancer screening test, and what that means for high-risk women

This episode lays the foundation for the rest of the series: screening, prevention, fertility, risk-reducing surgery, surgical menopause, and hormone replacement therapy, all through the lens of what it's actually like to live this, not just read about it.

If you're navigating a hereditary cancer diagnosis, facing a screening or surgery decision, or just found out you carry a mutation linked to ovarian cancer, this series is for you.

New episodes drop weekly throughout September for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Follow BRCA & Beyond so you don't miss the rest of the series, and if this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs it. Leave a review so we can continue to reach more people.

This podcast shares personal stories and experiences for informational and inspirational purposes only. It does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own doctor or genetic counselor before making medical decisions.

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review. This helps us reach more people navigating previvorship, survivorship, and life after a diagnosis.

Medical Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

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