Therapy for BRCA & Hereditary Cancer Anxiety
I specialize in working with women who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Living with a BRCA diagnosis is an incredibly unique and often misunderstood experience. You may not be sick or have a cancer diagnosis, yet still find yourself navigating the emotional weight of knowing you carry an increased risk of developing cancer. Living with this knowledge can also change the way you think about your body, your future, your family, and your sense of safety. You may find yourself feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or alone, even when everything is medically okay.
There is so much to consider and cope with:
The process of genetic testing, waiting for results, and navigating what a positive result means for you and your family
Understanding your hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk and what it means for your future
Managing annual scans and the anxiety of waiting for results
Navigating decisions about enhanced screening and risk-reducing surgeries, such as mastectomy or oophorectomy
Making family-planning decisions, including whether to pursue IVF and genetic testing of embryos
Navigating surgical menopause
Communicating with loved ones about this diagnosis
The ongoing scans and monitoring, decisions around preventative surgeries, fear and uncertainty, and the overall burden of carrying this information can be a lot to manage. Whether you've recently received a BRCA diagnosis or are at a different point in your journey of navigating your risk, therapy can offer a space to process these experiences, explore the impact on your sense of self and your future, and feel less alone in something that can be difficult for others to fully understand.