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 […]
MiraKind
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 that 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 […]
Doctor resistance to get KRAS-variant tested
Devon and her Obstetrician/Gynecologist always had a good rapport. During their decade-long relationship as patient and physician, Devon credited her doctor with maintaining her health, saving her daughter’s life despite delivery complications, and generally making each appointment pleasant. Nevertheless, as she waited for her doctor in the examination room this time, she realized she was […]
My “best friend and idol,” my mother, Joanne Perriens
This is Laura’s keynote address from the 2017 ACS Relay for Life, her testament to her mother, her “best friend and idol.” Her mother, Joanne Perriens’ story can be read here. Courage is defined as “strength in the face of grief.” When I look among the faces today, I see the embodiment of courage – cancer patients, caregivers, […]
“I’ve outlived three oncologists”
This article draws upon an interview Joanne Perriens had with our MiraGuide Amanda in June 2016. We were deeply saddened to learn that Joanne lost her battle to breast cancer shortly after they spoke on December 23, 2016. We would like to dedicate this piece in memory of Joanne’s remarkable life in the hopes that […]
“Making Something out of Nothing”
Waiting for her flight at the airport, Michelle Zacharia found herself walking in a direction she did not intend: toward the wall of magazines. Michelle, a person totally disinterested in celebrity gossip and tabloid fluff, thought to herself, “Why am I walking over to this magazine rack? I don’t care about Taylor Swift.” She saw […]
“Nobody plans to get cancer–I certainly didn’t.”
During the summer of 2009, Tina Kelly noticed two pea-sized lumps in her right breast. Feeling strong and having plenty of energy, she thought for sure they were benign fibroids, which she had had previously. Just to be safe, she visited her physician. When a deeper scan revealed a substantial tumor in her right breast, […]
The truth about GWAS and the KRAS-variant
Although much of the world has accepted that GWAS studies, which use an outdated technology looking at large amounts of data, have failed to find any functional mutations, this approach has twice been used to try and refute the validity of the KRAS-variant. Please read more to understand the significant flaws with these two studies, […]
