Ari Barron, a medical oncologist and hematologist, discusses BRCA mutations and the latest in pancreatic cancer therapies. Arielle Ungerleider shares poignant personal memories about her father’s battle with cancer and the family’s emotional journey through diagnosis and treatment. They explore the hope surrounding targeted therapies and the complexities of family dynamics amid grief. The episode highlights the importance of genetic testing, resilience, and the challenging yet profound experiences of facing illness together.
The emotional journey following a terminal cancer diagnosis highlights the interconnectedness of family health histories and individual fears of genetic predisposition.
Shoshana's reflections on family traditions and past experiences emphasize the lasting impact of loss and the significance of legacy in facing mortality.
Deep dives
Understanding Cancer Diagnosis and Family Impact
The episode recounts the emotional journey following the diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, a devastating revelation for the speaker’s family. This diagnosis not only poses a personal threat to the father but also overwhelms the speaker with the fear of genetic implications for herself and her sister, considering their family history of cancer. The confusion around this diagnosis is compounded when the doctor introduces the concept of genetic testing for BRCA mutations, which opens a new pathway for treatment options. This highlights how a single diagnosis can trigger a series of reflections on health, family history, and prognosis, affecting not just the patient but their loved ones as well.
Navigating Choices and Medical Options
During consultations, the family confronts the challenging decisions that accompany a terminal diagnosis, particularly in light of California's medical aid-in-dying laws. The discussion reveals varied emotional responses, specifically reflecting the father's struggle with independence and control over his life and health choices. As new treatment options, like PARP inhibitors for BRCA-positive patients, are proposed, there is a shift in hope and perspective for the family amidst their ongoing fears related to the cancer prognosis. This situation underscores the importance of understanding available therapies in the context of genetic predispositions, shaping the family's approach to care and decision-making.
The Role of Memory and Legacy
The episode delves into the speaker’s childhood memories, illustrating how recollections of past family experiences shape their current emotional landscape regarding illness. Through nostalgic reflections on family traditions and dynamics, the speaker grapples with the impact of loss and hereditary health risks. These experiences are intertwined with the narrative of how their grandmother's death from cancer established a framework for understanding their father's illness. The poignant storytelling emphasizes the significance of legacy, memory, and the evolving understanding of personal identity within the context of familial health histories.
TED Health's very own Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider has a new podcast Before We Go. You heard the first episode earlier this year so we wanted to share the second episode in the series -- if you'd like more from Before We Go, check it out wherever you are listening to this.
Before We Go follows Shoshana's personal and emotionally charged journey after her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the summer of 2022. His doctors were encouraged when testing showed that the cancer was related to a BRCA genetic mutation, which meant that it might respond to new, targeted therapies. But that also meant that Shoshana and her sister were also at risk for developing life-threatening cancers. With the help of renowned experts and some of the professionals who helped her along the way, Shoshana tells her story of love, loss, family, mortality, and the unexpected paths we take to find meaning and purpose in the face of life's greatest challenges.
In this episode, Shoshana reflects on the death of her paternal grandmother, Joy Ungerleider, who died of the same cancer Steven now faces. The family learns that Steven's cancer is BRCA-related, and hope rises with the possibility that targeted therapy may offer him many months, if not years, of quality life. But he would first need to endure several months of harsh chemotherapy. See behind the scenes and join the conversation on Instagram @beforewegopodcast.