When you’re BRCA positive, one of the hardest moments comes when you’re standing at the crossroad: Do I keep going with surveillance, or do I choose preventative surgery? Both options are heavy. Both come with fear, loss, and uncertainty.

In this episode, I share how I prayed desperately for clarity, and how God answered with signs I couldn’t ignore. Two women, two conversations, one day… and suddenly, the decision I had been agonizing over became undeniable.

I’ll take you into the raw emotions of that moment, the fear that didn’t go away, and the peace that still carried me into surgery. If you’re facing your own impossible decision, or walking alongside someone who is, this episode is here to remind you that clarity will come, and peace is possible even when you’re still afraid.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts + Spotify.

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review. This helps us reach more people navigating previvorship, survivorship, and life after a diagnosis.

Medical Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

Connect with BRCA & Beyond

Instagram:

🧬 @BRCAandBeyond

💛 @MarisStache

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you test positive for a BRCA mutation, one of the hardest questions you’ll ever face is this: Do I live under constant surveillance, or do I undergo surgery before cancer ever arrives?

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Marisa opens up about standing at that exact crossroad — and the fears, doubts, and sleepless nights that came with it. She shares what it was like to live scan-to-scan, the weight of her colon cancer experience, and the emotional tug-of-war that made surveillance unbearable. With honesty and compassion, she walks you through how she wrestled with the decision and what finally brought her peace.

This isn’t a medical lecture. It’s a heart-to-heart conversation about identity, motherhood, fear, loss, and choosing a path forward when both options feel impossible. If you’re navigating your own BRCA journey, or love someone who is, this episode will remind you that your fears are valid, your questions matter, and the “right” choice is the one that gives you peace.

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review. This helps us reach more people navigating previvorship, survivorship, and life after a diagnosis.

Medical Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

Connect with BRCA & Beyond

Instagram:

🧬 @BRCAandBeyond

💛 @MarisStache

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I got the call telling me I tested positive for BRCA2, my world stopped. I was sitting in my car, expecting to hear “everything’s fine,” and instead I was handed words that changed my life forever. In this episode, I open up about that moment, the fear, the anger, and the impossible choices that followed—and what it really feels like to live with a BRCA diagnosis.

This is the episode I wish I’d had the day I got the call. Together, we’ll talk about the pain points every newly diagnosed woman faces, the steps you can take to navigate the medical and emotional chaos, and most importantly, the positives of knowing. Because BRCA isn’t a life sentence, it’s a turning point.

“If you’ve just gotten the call and you feel like your world is upside down, pull up a chair, bestie, this episode is for you.

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review. This helps us reach more people navigating previvorship, survivorship, and life after a diagnosis.

Medical Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

Connect with BRCA & Beyond

Instagram:

🧬 @BRCAandBeyond

💛 @MarisStache

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of BRCA & Beyond, I open up about the journey that brought me here — from an unexpected colon cancer diagnosis to discovering I carry the BRCA2 gene mutation. I share the fears, decisions, and moments that forever changed my life, and why I felt called to create this podcast as a safe, honest space for women navigating the same path. This is my story, my why, and the beginning of a conversation I hope will remind you: you’re not alone.

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review. This helps us reach more people navigating previvorship, survivorship, and life after a diagnosis.

Medical Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

Connect with BRCA & Beyond

Instagram:

🧬 @BRCAandBeyond

💛 @MarisStache

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.