Bright Pink has compiled one-of-a-kind resources to inform and empower high-risk women as they navigate their lives as a woman at risk.
Bright Pink’s Empowered Patient Guides will help you learn more about yourself and your health care providers. Each guide can be downloaded, printed, and taken with you to your doctors’ appointments. Use the questions as conversation starters, come prepared with questions of your own, and take notes. Together, you and your doctor can create a risk management plan that’s right for you.
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Talking with Your Genetic Counselor
Enhances your understanding of the topics that will be discussed with a genetic counselor and identifies follow up questions that will help you manage your breast and ovarian cancer risk.
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Starting the Conversation with Your General Practitioner or OB/GYN
Prepares you to begin a conversation about your risk for breast or ovarian cancer with your primary care physician or OB/GYN.
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Talking with Your Plastic Surgeon
Directs your conversation with a plastic surgeon to assess your risk-reducing surgery options and evaluate which option is best for you.
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Talking with Your Breast Surgeon or General Surgeon
Provides a list of questions to help you get more familiar with your surgeon’s experience treating high-risk women, and to inform your expectations regarding prophylactic mastectomy.
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Talking with Your Gynecologic Oncologist, OB/GYN, or General Surgeon
Guides your conversation with doctors who can manage your ovarian cancer surveillance or perform a risk-reducing oophorectomy.
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Finding Your Mental Health Professional
Guides you in your search for a mental health professional that is right for you.
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Talking with your Gynecologic Oncologist or General Surgeon Following Salpino-Oophorectomy
Guides your conversation with a Gynecologic Oncologist or General Surgeon about preparing for your salpingo-oophorectomy and the months and years following surgery.
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Talking with Your Fertility Specialist
Boosts your knowledge of your fertility options as a high-risk young woman and how to work with a specialist to evaluate your fertility preservation options.
The Silver Lining
Even though some side effects of risk-reducing measures can make it difficult to conceive children the natural way, getting a head start can make a world of difference. Whether or not you’re ready to start a family, you can increase your future reproductive options by starting to think about it now.
Fertility Preservation
If you know you might want to have biological children someday, there are ways to preserve your fertility — but they have to be done before you undergo chemoprevention or an oophorectomy.
Embryo Banking involves retrieving several of your eggs at once, and then uses in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create embryos. Those embryos are then frozen until you’re ready to have children.
Egg Banking is similar, but allows you to freeze your eggs to be fertilized at a later time. Many single women who are undergoing an oophorectomy find this to be a good option. For more information, check out eggsurance.com.
With either alternative, as long as your uterus stays intact, you will likely be able to carry your own baby when you’re ready. If this is not an option for you, you may still be able to have biological children with a surrogate. A fertility specialist can help you sort through the best options for you.
Fertility Resources
For help with medical options and local fertility preservation referrals, call the FERTLINE Fertility Navigators at the Oncofertility Consortium (866-708-3378).
For additional information about fertility options and resources, including financial assistance, check out the LIVESTRONG Fertility program.
And for positive peer support from someone who has gone through a similar experience, sign up for our PinkPal® program.
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Resources
Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders
Dangerous Boobies: Breaking Up With My Time-Bomb Breasts
FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered)
National Early Detection Program
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance
Genetic Testing Resources
Employment, Financial and Legal Resources
Fertility Resources
Screening Resources
Cancer Fighter/Survivor Resources
Critical Mass: The Young Adult Cancer Alliance
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