Episode 405: I Was Doing Everything I Was Supposed to Do

What if a simple at-home DNA test changed the entire course of your life?

At 28 years old, today’s guest received a call that revealed she had a high probability of carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation. Genetic testing confirmed it, and suddenly, her family's history of cancer took on a deeply personal meaning. Her aunt, who also carried the mutation, was dying of ovarian cancer at the time. This pushed Margot Casino to make a series of decisions to protect her family's future including undergoing preventive surgeries and IVF with genetic screening. While in the process of taking steps to reduce her risk, Margot was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at just 31 years old. As a wife and a mother to two young boys, she’d already been doing everything she believed she could to protect herself from breast cancer, yet she still heard those dreaded words.

Margot is here today to discuss the importance of knowing your family history, understanding your genetics, and paying attention when something feels different in your body.

This October, Margot also decided to be part of Komen’s Don't Fail the Girls campaign because breast cancer is personal for her, and she knows how much is at stake. She’s using her voice to help make breast cancer impossible to ignore and to help drive the research, support and action needed to end it.

Takeaways

Knowing your breast cancer risk can help make an informed decision about your health
Support from family and friends help through treatment and serious complications
Younger women need to take breast cancer risk seriously

Chapters
00:01 — Discovering a BRCA1 mutation

04:40 — Choosing IVF with genetic screening

08:12 — Preventative surgeries and breast cancer diagnosis

16:50 — Treatment, sepsis and recovery

21:47 — Looking forward and helping others

Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org

Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

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