Surveillance or Surgery: The Choice That Haunts Us

Surveillance or Surgery: The Choice That Haunts Us

When you test positive for a BRCA mutation, one of the hardest questions you’ll ever face is this: Do I live under constant surveillance, or do I undergo surgery before cancer ever arrives?


In this raw and unfiltered episode, Marisa opens up about standing at that exact crossroad — and the fears, doubts, and sleepless nights that came with it. She shares what it was like to live scan-to-scan, the weight of her colon cancer experience, and the emotional tug-of-war that made surveillance unbearable. With honesty and compassion, she walks you through how she wrestled with the decision and what finally brought her peace.


This isn’t a medical lecture. It’s a heart-to-heart conversation about identity, motherhood, fear, loss, and choosing a path forward when both options feel impossible. If you’re navigating your own BRCA journey, or love someone who is, this episode will remind you that your fears are valid, your questions matter, and the “right” choice is the one that gives you peace.

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.


Connect with BRCA & Beyond

Instagram:

🧬 @BRCAandBeyond

💛 @MarisStache

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(39)

Killer Tits Club: How Alexa Meyer Turned a Breast Cancer Diagnosis at 33 Into a Movement

Killer Tits Club: How Alexa Meyer Turned a Breast Cancer Diagnosis at 33 Into a Movement

There's no one right way to move through a breast cancer diagnosis. Alexa Meyer's way involved asking every question, trusting her body, and building a community from her chemo chair.In this episode, ...

29 Juli 1h 9min

ATM Gene Mutation, Stage 1 Breast Cancer & Why Genetic Testing Matters with Krista Brown

ATM Gene Mutation, Stage 1 Breast Cancer & Why Genetic Testing Matters with Krista Brown

If you've been diagnosed with an ATM gene mutation, have a family history of breast cancer, or are wondering whether genetic testing could change your future, this conversation is for you.In this epis...

22 Juli 48min

Scanxiety: Waiting for Test Results, Biopsies, & Pathology

Scanxiety: Waiting for Test Results, Biopsies, & Pathology

Scanxiety is something almost everyone in the cancer and hereditary cancer community knows all too well but it's not talked about nearly enough.In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, I'm opening up about o...

17 Juli 38min

Career and Job Struggles as a Previvor or Survivor

Career and Job Struggles as a Previvor or Survivor

Career, job, and money struggles as a previvor or cancer survivor. A cancer diagnosis or genetic mutation finding, like BRCA or Lynch syndrome, changes more than your health; it changes your career, y...

10 Juli 51min

Living with BRCA1: Kristen Jordan on Family History, Prevention & Advocacy

Living with BRCA1: Kristen Jordan on Family History, Prevention & Advocacy

What does it really mean to live with a BRCA1 gene mutation? How do you make life-changing decisions when hereditary cancer runs through your family?In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, I sit down with K...

2 Juli 1h 17min

Genetic Mutation, BRCA, and Cancer Survivorship: Living Fully While Carrying Hereditary Cancer Risk

Genetic Mutation, BRCA, and Cancer Survivorship: Living Fully While Carrying Hereditary Cancer Risk

In this solo episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa talks about a message she received from someone in her past suggesting that because she is healthy now, she should move on from talking about cancer, gene...

26 Juni 1h 3min

The Dear Body Project Through BRCAStrong: Healing Invisible Scars After BRCA & Cancer

The Dear Body Project Through BRCAStrong: Healing Invisible Scars After BRCA & Cancer

In this deeply personal episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa Stachelski takes listeners behind the scenes of her experience participating in the Dear Body Project through BRCAStrong, a powerful initiative...

17 Juni 48min

Hereditary Cancer Risk: The Roadmap Patients Have Been Missing | Randi Eichenbaum of MOTA

Hereditary Cancer Risk: The Roadmap Patients Have Been Missing | Randi Eichenbaum of MOTA

What happens after you learn you have a hereditary cancer risk?For many people, the answer is uncertainty. Genetic testing can provide important information, but it often leaves individuals wondering ...

12 Juni 43min

Populärt inom Utbildning

historiepodden-se
det-skaver
rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
nu-blir-det-historia
not-fanny-anymore
rss-viktmedicinpodden
johannes-hansen-podcast
roda-vita-rosen
allt-du-velat-veta
sa-in-i-sjalen
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
sektledare
rss-traningsklubben
i-vantan-pa-katastrofen
sex-pa-riktigt-med-marika-smith
vi-gar-till-historien
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
parkinsonpodden
rss-autismandan