13: BRCA What? BRCA Who? What No One Tells You About Cancer & Genetic Counseling w/ BRCA Advocate Erika Stallings

Erika Stallings is an attorney, writer and BRCA awareness advocate. In June 2014, she discovered she carried the BRCA2 gene mutation, a hereditary cancer mutation that causes up to an 85% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (and other cancers too).

Just six months later she underwent a preventative double mastectomy -- at an age where most are just starting to come into their own.

Erika’s eye-opening experience and research led her to become an advocate for other young women facing the same fate, particularly black women who are underserved by genetic counseling and testing. She has spoken about her experience with BRCA and the many biases at the healthcare level.

Her message and mission have appeared in major publications such as Jezebel, Huffington Post, New York Magazine’s The Cut and O Magazine. She also serves as the founding co-chair of the Young Leadership Council for the Basser Center for BRCA.

You can find her on twitter @quidditch424 or all the fabulous publishings below.

If you or a loved one has been touched by Cancer, healthcare bias, or if you’re considering BRCA genetic counseling don’t hesitate to reach out to Erika for q’s and a’s here:  http://erikastallings.com/contact-me/

Learn more about BRCA & Erika’s story here:

https://www.thecut.com/2018/03/relearning-how-to-date-after-my-double-mastectomy.html


https://jezebel.com/what-no-one-tells-you-about-your-brca-mutation-1647240915


https://www.huffpost.com/author/erika-stallings


http://www.oprah.com/health_wellness/the-article-that-could-help-save-black-womens-lives


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hereditary-cancer-and-genetic-counseling-what-do-black-women-need-to-know-tickets-46069653574


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ85pX-yxV8&t=1s

---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bagelsandplantains/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bagelsandplantains/support