In 2019, I was 56 years old. I was happily married and the mother of two grown sons. I didn’t talk about it much, but I always assumed that at some point, I would be diagnosed with cancer. My father had died at the age of 38, from stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma and his mother… Continue reading
HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a protein present in normal cells that helps to regulate cell growth and division. The HER2 gene makes this HER2 protein, which is located on the cell surface. In about 1 in 5 breast cancers, the HER2 gene makes extra copies… Continue reading
I was originally diagnosed as Stage I Hormone+ HER2- in Sept of 2019, and was then diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC) in July 2020. The cancer had spread rapidly to my liver and bones including my spine and pelvis. My oncologist tried prescribing 5 different series of… Continue reading
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 at the age of 32. I had just finished breastfeeding my second son and noticed a lump in the shower. It turned out that there were 3 aggressive tumors in my breast. I eventually ended up having a bilateral mastectomy and needed… Continue reading
Ovarian Cancer There is no reliable way to screen for ovarian cancer that finds it early enough to change the outcome. Anyone who is having pelvic or abdominal surgery, and is finished having children, should consider inquiring if their fallopian tubes can be removed… Continue reading
Dear A, You made it through the night. Perhaps you couldn’t sleep, but I hope you did. This is a long roller coaster ride and you’ll need your rest and strength. If you couldn’t sleep, try Karina Goodwin’s Guided Meditations for Surviving Cancer. She’s a survivor… Continue reading
I was newly married when I learned about my BRCA1 mutation, after my mother’s Ovarian Cancer diagnosis. We planned to start a family, but after learning there is a 50/50 risk of passing the genetic mutation to each of my children, we decided on IVF with Preimplantation Genetic… Continue reading
HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a protein present in normal cells that helps to regulate cell growth and division. The HER2 gene makes this HER2 protein. In about 1 in 5 breast cancers, the HER2 gene makes extra copies of itself, which means the cell makes… Continue reading
Looking back, there were other symptoms. But it was severe abdominal pain that had me rushing to the doctor. A litany of tests confirmed my worst possible fear: ovarian cancer. These last 10 years have been marked by: 27 rounds of chemo 55 days inpatient 4 surgeries 3… Continue reading
Holy Name Cancer Care critical in the development of new treatments for advanced ovarian and endometrial cancers The past decade of clinical research has seen significant advancements in the treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancers. Holy Name Cancer Care, in… Continue reading
This summer I had the amazing opportunity to be an intern at Sharsheret. For many years I knew of Sharsheret through school events, like Pink Day, but I didn’t know much else until my mom reached out to Sharsheret in 2021. I was away at college when my mom was first diagnosed… Continue reading
“Introduction to Community and Population Health Behaviors–3 Credits.” I remember reading through my public health course options in April and being confused by the superfluous word “community" in this title. How does a community impact health Doesn’t the environment,… Continue reading
My internship with Sharsheret this summer was nothing short of transforming. I had known about Sharsheret and its mission for years, having volunteered on occasion, walked 5Ks, and purchased delicious baked goods from their bake sales (just one of their many fundraising events).… Continue reading
The prologue to my journey began when I was a teenager and my maternal great aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was in the 1970’s, 20 years before the BRCA mutations were even discovered. Following my great aunt’s diagnosis, several of her eight siblings and their… Continue reading
I recently returned from an amazing five-day women’s hike in the desert of Israel with my friend, Ilana. We hiked in 90-degree heat, up mountains, across boulders, through narrow passages, walking 14-17 kilometers a day on sand and stone, up steep inclines, down into valleys,… Continue reading
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) is a federal law that provides protections for patients who choose to have breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The law states that all surgery related to breast cancer must be covered by insurance plans,… Continue reading
Nothing about my story is typical. Results from my 2018 23andMe test revealed both my genetic history and also that my father who raised me was not my biological father; rather, my next door neighbor was. Imagine! And then in 2021, shortly after my father passed away, I got… Continue reading
Choosing a surgeon or oncologist is a big decision. Trust me, as both a doctor and a cancer survivor myself, I get it. Often, you will meet with one doctor and know they are the right fit for you. But sometimes you may want more information. When making any life changing… Continue reading
As a cancer patient, I learned that cancer treatment is a difficult and challenging process. I also saw things from a different perspective and learned just how challenging it can be for the medical team who administer treatments as well. It became clear that effective… Continue reading
I’m Madeline Benjamin. I live in Kansas City with my husband Jay, our 3-year-old daughter, Eden, our doodle, Marshall and one baby on the way. I’m a Triple Negative Breast Cancer SURVIVOR and one of the 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews who carries the Breast Cancer (BRCA) gene… Continue reading
