What Came Up at My 6 Month High-Risk BRCA Check Up

If you carry a BRCA mutation, preventive surgery is not the end of your screening story. It is the beginning of a lifelong protocol that many carriers are not fully informed about.

I recently had my 6 month high-risk check up and wanted to share what came up, because this is exactly the kind of information our community needs.

Vitamin D. My levels were checked and it matters more than most people realize for BRCA carriers.

Pancreatic cancer screening. This is often overlooked and not discussed enough.

Physical breast exam after mastectomy. Yes, this still happens and yes it still matters.

Advocating for yourself. Knowing what to ask for and speaking up at every appointment can make all the difference.

I made a short video below breaking all of this down. 

If this helped you, please share it with someone who needs it.

My Advocacy Started from Frustration

My advocacy started from frustration.

I help people better understand hereditary cancer and the decisions that come with it. I can’t sleep at night if I don’t.

This interview with Our Cancer Stories shares more about that work, how it started, and why it matters.

Grateful to Our Cancer Stories for the feature.

READ HERE

What’s for Dinner? Meals From My Instagram Stories

Most of what I share here is about hereditary cancer risk, genetics, and the decisions that come with it. But life is more than screenings, surgeries, and medical appointments.

Taking care of ourselves also means everyday things like hobbies, routines, and eating well. Cooking is one of the small things that helps me slow down and feel a little grounded at the end of the day.

On Instagram I often share quick “What’s for Dinner?” cooking stories. They’re usually simple, healthy meals I throw together on busy nights. Since Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours, I’m collecting them here so they’re easier to find later.

I’ll keep adding to this post as I share new ones.

Amy                                    

                         SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE                                                          with PATAGONIAN  SCALLOPS                                                                                    recipe

                  

                                                         EASY CHICKEN FAJITAS                                     

THROW-IT-ALL-IN PROTEIN SOUP

SMASHED BROCCOLI

recipe

HALIBUT

recipe 

Guest Post: Danielle’s Decisions and Why Previvor Choices Must Be Personal

I recently had the opportunity to write a guest post for BRCA STRONG about Danielle’s decisions in Love, Danielle and why previvor choices can never be one size fits all. These decisions are deeply personal and shaped by many things in someone’s life. I’m grateful to BRCA STRONG for creating space for this conversation.

Read the full piece here on 

BRCA STRONG: https://www.brcastrong.org/danielles-decisions-and-why-previvor-choices-must-be-personal/

I hope it resonates with anyone navigating these decisions or supporting someone who is. - Amy

HAPPY NEW YEAR

This past year has been incredibly meaningful. Participating in film festivals and having "Love, Danielle" available to watch in North America has reminded me how powerful storytelling can be in helping people feel seen, supported, and less alone when navigating hereditary cancer risk.

I am so grateful for the friendship, talent, and heart of Devin Sidell, whose stellar performance brings Danielle’s journey to life with honesty, humor, and hope.

Gratitude to everyone who has supported, watched, shared, and believed in this film’s purpose. Here’s to new beginnings, continued growth, and all the light that 2026 has to offer. - Amy

Amy Byer Shainman has spent more than a decade helping people understand the life-altering implications of genetic cancer-causing mutations. Now, she has a new outlet for everything she’s learned — a candid and grimly comedic film. 

“Love, Danielle,” available on streaming services, follows a fictional woman grappling with the discovery that, like 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews, she carries a BRCA1 gene mutation. It’s a darkly funny and intimate look at life as a cancer “previvor” — a portmanteau of “predisposition” and “survivor” used to describe someone who has not been diagnosed with cancer but has an increased risk of developing cancer due to an inherited genetic mutation or strong family history. READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Focus on HRT

 Why I’m Excited HRT Is Finally Getting Attention 

Author Georgia Hurst 

Georgia Hurst is a fierce patient advocate for those with Lynch syndrome.

Key Takeaways

• Early HRT initiation is crucial for women under 46 post-oophorectomy to reduce risks of heart disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline.
• The conversation around HRT has shifted from stigma to recognition of its essential role in women's health, especially post-surgical menopause.
• Recent research supports HRT's safety and benefits for women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset, enhancing quality of life.
• Increased awareness and open discussions have led to better pre-surgical counseling and support for women considering preventive surgeries.

Many fail to recognize that estrogen is necessary to help your body and its parts work in concert with each other seamlessly.  When I started writing for CURE more than 10 years ago, Read or listen to Georgia's full article HERE.

(HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy)