61. Alyssa Lakes (Breast & Brain Cancer Survivor)

Join host, Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, as she speaks with Alyssa Lakes. Alyssa carries the BRCA1 gene mutation and was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer at the age of 36 when her son was just a few months old. Just recently, as she approached the 5 year anniversary of being cancer-free, she started having neurologic changes and seizures and was diagnosed with a rare type of brain tumor called an ependymoma. She’s recently completed surgery (craniotomy) and radiation. We talk about everything—her mother’s breast cancer history, how she navigated marriage, parenthood and fertility during cancer, how she talked to her son about cancer and how she believes in practicing gratitude and mindfulness. You can follow both Alyssa (@alylakes) and Dr. Teplinsky (@drteplinsky) on Instagram.