A big part of why I started this blog was to encourage health care providers to educate high-risk patients about hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. As a nursing student, I see firsthand what an impact heath care providers can make with educating their patients. I got really lucky that the OBGYN I randomly found in undergrad (I used the very good research technique of, “what OBGYN is closest to campus and covered by my insurance) happened to be a BRCA specialist. In the huge clipboard of forms I filled out at the start of the appointment, there was a questionnaire about family history of breast and ovarian cancers. Little did I know as I checked off yes boxes on the form (are you of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, do you have a close relative who was diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer), that my OBGYN would recommend I get the BRCA test.

I want to give a big shoutout to CDC Cancer for starting the #KNOWBRCA campaign, which aims to educate the public about the gene. I also can never express my gratitude enough to Dr. Lofquist, for having that BRCA questionnaire in her packet and for encouraging a girl in her early 20s to get the genetic test that could ultimately save her life.