by Lizzie Stark
at least one study suggests that BRCA positive women: Roxana Moslehi, et al., “Impact of BRCA Mutations on Female Fertility and Offspring Sex,” American Journal of Human Biology 22, no. 2 (March–April 2010): 201–5.
If I want to have non-BRCA biological children: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment,” MS-27.
The first involves in vitro fertilization: “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF),” MedlinePlus, National Institutes of Health, February 26, 2012, accessed March 14, 2014, www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007279.htm; “Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis,” Genesis Genetics, accessed March 14, 2014, http://genesisgenetics.org/pgd/.
There may or may not be a slight increased risk: Mayo Clinic Staff, “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF),” Mayo Clinic, June 27, 2013, accessed March 14, 2014, www.mayoclinic.com/health/in-vitro-fertilization/MY01648/DSECTION=risks.
Prenatal genetic diagnosis: “Psychosocial Issues in Inherited Breast Cancer Syndromes,” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, accessed March 14, 2014, www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/genetics/breast-and-ovarian/HealthProfessional/page4#Section_975; Claire Julian-Reynier, et al., “BRCA1/2; Carriers: Their Childbearing Plans and Theoretical Intentions about Having Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Prenatal Diagnosis,” Genetics in Medicine 14, no. 5 (January 12, 2012): 527–34.
If I’m able, I’d like to have: Kutluk Oktay, et al., “Association of BRCA1 Mutations With Occult Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: A Possible Explanation for the Link Between Infertility and Breast/Ovarian Cancer Risks,” Journal of Clinical Oncology 28, no. 2 (January 10, 2010): 240–44. On the other hand, here’s an epidemiological study that suggests there’s no difference in parity or fertility for BRCA women: T. Pal, et al., “Fertility in Women with BRCA Mutations: A Case-Control Study,” Fertility and Sterility 93, no. 6 (April 2010): 1805–8.
Chapter 13: Through the Looking Glass
she posts a new blog entry: Cheri, Stella Blue: My Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer (blog), accessed March 14, 2014, http://stellablue.net/.
fine-needle biopsies do have: “Fine Needle Aspiration (Fine Needle Biopsy),” Susan G. Komen, October 22, 2013, accessed March 14, 2014, http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/FineNeedleBiopsy.html.
A 2004 look at the National Cancer Institute’s grants: Clifton Leaf, “Why We’re Losing the War on Cancer,” Fortune, March 22, 2004; Jonathan Sleeman and Patricia S. Steeg, “Cancer Metastasis as a Therapeutic Target,” European Journal of Cancer 46, no. 7 (May 2012): 1177–80.
up to 30 percent of patients: Elia Ben-Ari, “A Conversation with Dr. Patricia Steeg …”; National Cancer Institute, “Ten Years of Tamoxifen …”; A.M. Gonzales-Angulo, et al., “Overview of Resistance to Systemic Therapy …”; V. Guarneri and P. F. Conte, “The Curability of Breast Cancer and the Treatment of Advanced Disease.”
about 5 percent of all breast cancer: National Cancer Institute, “Stage Distribution (SEER Summary Stage 2000), By Cancer Site,” Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, National Institutes of Health, accessed March 14, 2014, http://seer.cancer.gov/faststats/selections.php?run=runit&output=2&data=1&statistic=12&year=201303&race=1&sex=3&age=1&series=cancer&cancer=553.
A full 16.5 percent of African American: “High-Penetrance Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Genes,” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, February 20, 2014, accessed March 14, 2014, www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/genetics/breast-and-ovarian/HealthProfessional/page2.
LIZZIE STARK is the author of Leaving Mundania and a freelance journalist who has written for io9.com, The Today Show website, Psychology Today, the Daily Beast, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She holds an MS in Journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and an MA in writing from Emerson College. She founded and edited the literary journal Fringe. She lives in Boston.
Jacket design: Rebecca Lown
Front cover photo: (Standing, L to R) Trudy, El, and Meg; (Seated)
Frida and Henry. Photo courtesy of the author.
Author photo: J.R. Blackwell
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