Menopause: a condition that 100% of women will experience, yet so few of us feel comfortable talking about. Let’s start with Perimenopause… Did you know that women in their 40s (and some as early as their 30s) can begin experiencing changes in the years leading up to menopause? Lasting anywhere from a few months to […]
MiraKind
New Research: How Inherited DNA -Based Mutations Impact Immunotherapy
The partners on the UCLA research team have made new discoveries about how genetic mutations can help doctors predict patient responses to cancer-fighting immunotherapy drugs. In the past, we have spoken a lot about the Central Dogma, which is the idea that genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins. Specifically, a strand of […]
How Hazel Helped Scientists Learn More About Hormone Replacement Therapy
For women approaching or experiencing menopause, the question of whether or not to utilize hormone replacement therapy is a common one. After her hysterectomy at age 45, Hazel, now 87 years old and a 12-year breast cancer survivor, faced the same decision. In line with her doctors’ advice, she began a 30-year-long treatment of hormone […]
International Women’s Day Profile: Dr. Joanne Weidhaas
Here at MiraKind, we’re constantly inspired by the amazing women who surround us; whether it is scientists and doctors working on our research, or the strong and empowered women who are facing complex health challenges with dignity and grace.
HRT and The KRAS-Variant
While there are many factors to consider before taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), understanding your genetic profile can prove invaluable in your decision-making process. Joanne Weidhaas, MD, PhD, and her colleagues published research in 2015 that pointed to estrogen withdrawal—which occurs during menopause, abrupt stoppage of HRT, or a pre-menopausal oophorectomy without HRT—as a potential trigger […]
Why “Self Care” is not “Selfish”
Cancer survivors and their loved ones are no strangers to the adverse effects chemotherapy can have on one’s body, mind, and spirit. Despite these setbacks, Mirakind community member and blogger, Heather Trojan, refuses to let her cancer treatment lead her to a toxic life. Diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2011, Heather believes that “self-care” […]
Top 5 Reasons to Give a Charitable Donation this Holiday Season
This time of year, the malls and online stores are filled with shoppers, eager to purchase the perfect gift for friends and loved ones near and far. We may be biased, but one of our favorite things to do at Christmas is to give a charitable donation in lieu of presents. We have three key […]
16-Year Breast Cancer Survivor, Cathy Ledvina
The holiday season is a time of remembrance. We relive our favorite memories around the dinner table, exchange gifts with those who helped make them, and mourn those no longer with us. This December, Cathy Ledvina has an extraordinary milestone to commemorate: her sixteenth year as a breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 2001, Cathy shares […]
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so here at MiraKind, we’re taking a moment to think about the many ways in which breast cancer impacts our community. Many of you may know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. With those startling statistics, it’s almost a guarantee this disease […]
Menopause & Myths about Hormone Replacement Therapy
Post Updated February 7, 2022 For the large majority of us who suffer one or more symptoms of menopause, we can all agree that it is NO FUN. So what can we do about it? According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), a leading group of health care providers who specialize in health issues […]
What You Need to Know About Estrogen and the KRAS-variant
Joanne Weidhaas is MiraKind’s founder and one of the scientists responsible for discovering the KRAS-variant, an inherited genetic mutation which predicts an increased risk of cancer. Following this breakthrough, Dr. Weidhaas and her team of researchers began exploring the connection between estrogen and breast cancer risk, particularly as it pertains to individuals who test positive […]
Let’s Talk Menopause (Finally)
Menopause: a condition that 100% of women will experience, yet so few of us feel comfortable talking about. We all know something about menopause, but just like pregnancy or bungee jumping, you can’t really understand what it’s like to go through menopause until you have truly experienced it. Despite the fact that menopause is a […]
