I recently had the honor of speaking at the National Society of Genetic Counselors‘ annual conference in San Diego. Specifically, I participated in a plenary session and shared with 1200 genetic counselors the 5 Things Genetic Counselors Need to Know About Previvors. Bonnie J. Rough, author of Carrier, was my co-presenter.

I have to say, the crowd was one of the most receptive I’ve ever addressed. The genetic counselors were passionate about their patients and eager to learn how they might further help those with a high risk for cancer. For instance, one of my points was that previvors want their genetic counselors to follow up with them. Afterwards, many who heard my speech told me they were planning on calling or emailing each of their patients when they returned back home.

This Friday, I’ll have the honor of speaking in front of nearly 1,000 of genetic counselors at the annual National Society of Genetic Counselors conference in San Diego. My plenary session is entitled “5 Things Genetic Counselors Need to Know About Previvors.” I’m excited and honored to participate in this important event.

Ever since my book, Previvors, came out last year I’ve been speaking nationwide to women and men about their cancer risk. I usually address risk factors, red flags, and all the statistics related to BRCA mutations, surveillance options, and the latest in prophylactic surgeries. But the genetic counselors already know all of this. In fact, many of them helped me decipher this critical information when I was first writing my book.

That’s why I’m shifting gears.

Yesterday, the five previvors featured in my book and I spoke at the Power of Pink event in Boca Raton. More than 400 women (and a few men) attended and, thanks to the organization’s co-chairs Joy  and Kim, the day was a great success. 

As I sat up on stage listening to the five women tell their stories…stories which I have been listening to and writing about for more than two years…I was struck by how moved I was. I realized that I could hear their stories hundreds of times, and I’ll never stop welling up when they talk about their mothers’ battles with cancer. I’ll never stop being amazed by these five women’s bravery. I’ll never stop being inspired by their passion to help other women living with a high risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer. And I will always be thankful that Lisa, Mayde, Amy, Rori, and Suzanne gave me the tremendous honor of writing about their personal experiences in our book Previvors. I am very grateful that these five women are in my life.

On April 27th, I and the women featured in my book, Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions will be speaking at the 2nd Annual Power of Pink event in Boca Raton, Florida.  Of course, I’m honored for the opportunity.