BE A River - Gina Burris Interview

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Gina Marie Burris is a children’s book author/blogger that lives in a small riverside community in Western Pennsylvania.  She has a love for cooking, traveling, spending warm summer days on the river, maintaining positive relationships with those she holds dear, spreading awareness about cancer prevention, and collecting memories instead of material possessions.  

Gina Marie is a humbled BRCA1 “Previvor.”.  With zero known family history of breast or ovarian cancer, Gina discovered her positive BRCA1 status via the Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Test, 23andme.  After speaking to an incredible genetic counselor and confirming that she did in fact carry the mutation, she worked closely with a skilled team of health care providers and chose to take the path to prevention.  Having such a high risk of developing cancer, she will be forever grateful to 23andme for giving her the opportunity to be proactive instead of reactive in her healthcare choices.  

Gina was inspired by others who had made similar choices, and she decided the best way to give back to the BRCA community was to blog about her own experiences.  Gina’s blog chronicles her journey from the beginning and gives you an honest and sometimes humorous look into what the path to prevention and life after surgeries looks like.  You can find the blog at: https://rivergirlreflections.com/

 

In addition to blogging, Gina felt passionate about creating a handheld book women could take with them as they navigated their own road.  What started as an idea, turned into a 130-page companion book, titled BRCA BRCA 1-9.  It is filled with educational components, motivation, organization suggestions and one-of-a kind activities to help women stay in a positive space when the days feel dark.  She likes to think of the book as a silent friend, placed in the reader’s hand to encourage and cheer her on.  Books can be ordered through Amazon or directly from Gina Marie. 

https://www.amazon.com/BRCA-1-9-Womans-Guide/dp/B0CGL39373/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34HQZ975VSJ13&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tZ5-0k-oL3Il1DMOx7ArJM0x0Y4uO_9PL5XuQoTlNTU.EmoNMimtJcdMI5QZIXhuW0SvLnAE7j1X8HFXejAEmIM&dib_tag=se&keywords=brca+brca+1-9&qid=1717594043&sprefix=brca+brca+1-9%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1