Walking the Genetic Line

Guest: Ananda Millard Theme: Agency, humor, and identity after breast cancer and BRCA2 diagnosis Episode summary After a sudden breast cancer diagnosis at age 50—and learning she carries the BRCA2 mutation—Ananda Millard found herself unexpectedly navigating complex medical and emotional terrain. In her conversation with Sara, Ananda shares how the loss of her mother to pancreatic cancer and refle...

Episode Summary At just 19, Violet Page tested positive for a BRCA1 mutation after witnessing breast cancer run through generations of her family. Having lived with her aunt during her treatment and eventual passing, Violet faced her own genetic risk with clarity, courage, and deep grief. In this episode, she shares how she chose preventive surgeries in her early twenties, the privilege of knowing...

Episode Summary At just 25, Marisa Kimmel learned she carried a BRCA mutation that put her at dramatically increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. With a newborn baby at home, she chose a preventative double mastectomy with flat closure, documenting her journey online and building a vibrant community around honesty, humor, and radical self-acceptance. Marisa also lives with alopecia, a condi...

Episode Summary In this opening episode, host Sara Champie, LCSW shares the deeply personal story behind Walking the Genetic Line . From losing her mother to ovarian cancer at age 10, to receiving her own BRCA1 diagnosis at 30, Sara reflects on how genetic testing shapes not only medical decisions but also grief, identity, relationships, and intergenerational healing. This episode sets the foundat...

Welcome to Walking the Genetic Line, a podcast about the emotional, relational, and deeply human side of living with hereditary cancer risk. I'm Sara Champie, a therapist, coach, and BRCA1 carrier. I am a fellow traveler in this space, a space that's usually defined by the medical community, statistics, and risk management strategies. On this podcast, we are doing it a little differently. Here, we...