When our team came across a recent Los Angeles Times Article entitled, “Once and for all: Hormone replacement is good for women” we were very intrigued. What we learned from this game-changing article brought us into a collaboration with like-minded leaders in the healthcare field who understand the importance of our innovative research that empowers […]
MiraKind
Turning Knowledge Into Action & Power
Jane* had always followed the medical guidelines, so at age 40, she started her annual mammogram screenings. In March of 2009, right before her 57th birthday, Jane went in for what she thought was just another routine screening. In this screening, a small tumor was detected in her breast tissue. After a biopsy following the […]
Connecting a Family History of Cancer with Personal Health
Jenn Roark was only 33 when she was first diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer. She felt a hard spot on her breast, short of a lump, but decided to be safe and go to her OBGYN to discuss it further. Her OBGYN referred her to a Breast Care Clinic and on October 31st, 2008, […]
If I participate in a study will you send me my KRAS-variant results?
We had an excellent question from a MiraKind study participant. They wanted to know, “If I participate in a study will you send me my KRAS-variant results?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. You actually need to apply to give us permission to send the result through MiraDX. This is a CLIA lab and allows us […]
Do I need to get tested for KRAS-variant if I’m BRCA positive?
We received a great question from a friend of a patient asking, “since she knows she has a BRCA mutation, is it necessary to find out if she also has the KRAS-variant? Would it change her cancer prevention strategies?” No, it’s not necessary. Management for BRCA mutant patients is very well established and having the […]
Should I Get Pelvic Exams if I Have No Ovaries?
We had an excellent question from a participant who has the KRAS-variant and had chosen to have her ovaries removed. She asked her OB/GYN if she still needed to have pelvic exams since she no longer had ovaries. She was told she did not. I checked that fact with other experts in the field and […]
How Genetic Testing Helped Karen Navigate Her Cancer Treatment
When pathology reports from her lung cancer biopsy showed that 56-year-old Karen Peterson was positive for the KRAS oncogene, she had never heard of the KRAS protein before. Karen and her family turned to the internet, hoping to learn more about the gene’s influence on Karen’s lung cancer diagnosis. Back in 2016, the same evening […]
KRAS-Variant and Breast Cancer
Webinar – KRAS-Variant and Breast Cancer Did you miss our live webinar on the KRAS-Variant with Dr. Joanne Weidhaas? Watch the replay and learn about how this genetic mutation can impact your cancer risk and treatment. | Rethink Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer Awareness | National Breast Cancer Foundation | Posted by Mirakind on Friday, […]
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 […]
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” […]
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 […]
