Episode 80 HEREDITARY CANCER

Next Chapter: Losing My Mother, Previving For My Children

with Heather Barnard

Eleanor first interviewed Heather in 2018. At that time, Heather was several years out from completing a prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy related to her BRCA1 mutation and was living in Singapore. Her children were ages 10, 12, and 13. Heather shared her story of losing her mother to BRCA1-related breast cancer when she was only 13 and her determination to learn her risks and take all the steps she could to be there for her children. Today, Heather is living in Spain and her children are 15, 17, and 19. When Eleanor reached out to Heather about a follow-up Next Chapter interview, they had all just mailed their DNA to 23andMe for testing.

In Next Chapter interviews, we check back in with previous guests on Patient Stories to see how their stories have continued to unfold.

Do you need genetic counseling?

Browse our network of genetic counselors and schedule when you're ready.

Not sure where to start?