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Meet a Rivkin Edu Ambassador: Sarah Czaja

Meet an Ambassador

cancan-ambassadorThe Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer’s Education program provides free health education workshops across the west coast. Rivkin Edu campus ambassadors are the feet-on-the-ground representatives at colleges for the Rivkin Center, helping set up workshops, identify opportunities to reach more students, and so much more.

Say hello to Sarah Czaja, Rivkin Edu ambassador at the University of Utah.

About Sarah

Where are you from? Mission Viejo, CA

Where do you live now and what a typical day look like? I live close to campus in Salt Lake City, Utah. I’m program director for the Ronald McDonald House through our campus’ volunteer hub, the Bennion Center. I’m also minoring in pediatric clinical research. It may be hard to find me on campus, but odds are I’m there no matter the time of day!

What do you do for fun? I love volunteering. Making other people smile, makes me smile. I also love to hang out with my roommates, doing yoga or new activities, like climbing! I also love cooking and baking, so I do that for them a lot.

What is your favorite mantra? When you give without expecting anything in return is when you will actually receive the most.

What is your favorite drink? I really love coffee.

What advice would you give to your younger self? Never settle for people that won’t be good friends back to you. Good friends are out there and they will return the love you show them.

What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of my growing confidence. It’s something I work on everyday, but the people around me are constantly showing me that I am perfect the way I am!

Where’s your favorite place to travel? I loved Ireland and I’m hoping to go back soon. The people and the landscape are both beautiful!

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I write novels and hope to be published someday.

Where do you go to find inspiration? I find inspiration in books. There are so many strong characters and you can learn so much about history.

Where’s your happy place? I feel calm at the beach and in forests. There’s something about those settings that allows my mind to relax and stop overthinking everything.

Who is your role model? My mom. She has always given a lot of herself to others and I have been looking up to her ever since I was a little girl.

How Sarah got involved

What inspired you to get involved with Rivkin Edu? A lot of my family members and close friends have gone through cancer. When women get together and support one another, amazing things can happen. There is so much to learn about cancer and people’s experiences, and I want to be a part of that experience for other people. Talking about cancer can be painful, but Rivkin Edu is such a fun and positive thing. The Rivkin Edu became a way for me to turn my negative experiences into positive ones and help change lives.

What is the most important thing you want attendees to learn at a Rivkin Edu party? I want people to learn how to respect their bodies. A lot of people are ashamed of their bodies but they should feel proud and empowered.

Do you have any Rivkin Edu events coming up? We have 5 parties this week!

Learn more about the Rivkin Education program

Want to learn more about becoming a campus ambassador? Apply here.


Talk to your Family

Talking to your family and identifying cancer in your family tree can be a good indicator of your health risks. Download our Family Tree Worksheet here.  Be sure to include yourself, children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Get Educated

Know your body and be proactive about your health. Learn about your breast and ovarian health. Learn about the risk factors and signs & symptoms for breast and ovarian cancer.

Trusted Healthcare Provider

Having a relationship with a health care provider you know and trust is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about your health care. Click here to find a provider

Higher Risk in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

In the general population, around 1 in 400 people carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. People of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry have a 1 in 40 chance of carrying a BRCA mutation, making them 10 times as likely to carry a BRCA mutation as someone in the general population. Whether you’re a man or a woman, if you have a BRCA mutation then there is a 50% chance of passing the mutation on to your children, whether they are boys or girls. It’s important to note that these mutations significantly increase risk, but are not a guarantee a person will get cancer.

Why is the Ashkenazi Jewish population at higher risk?

Over 90% of the BRCA mutations found in the Jewish community are one of three “founder mutations”. A founder mutation is a specific gene mutation in a population that was founded by a small group of ancestors that were geographically or culturally isolated. Because the population was isolated, the rate of founder mutations in descendants is much higher than it would be if the population were larger and co-mingling with more genetically diverse populations. A large expansion in the population caused the current high frequency of the mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. If you are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, the chance of carrying a BRCA gene mutation compared to the general population is increased tenfold. BRCA mutations can be passed down from either your mother’s or father’s side, and may be associated with any of the following cancers:
  • Breast cancer
  • Ovarian cancer, fallopian tube, peritoneal cancer
  • Male breast cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Colon Cancer

Ready to take action? Knowledge is power. Take this short quiz to be proactive about your health.

Genes 101

Our bodies are made of many tiny building blocks called cells. Our cells contain a copy of our genome – all of the DNA genetic code we inherited from our parents. Our genome is organized into 46 chromosomes, 23 inherited from mom and 23 from dad. Each chromosome has hundreds or thousands of genes. Each gene has the instructions to make a protein that may control the structure or function of cells, can determine many things including how tall we are or the color of our eyes. Genes also contain instructions for many things inside of us that we cannot see, such as how our bones are formed or how our heart works. Each gene is made up of molecules called nucleic acids (A, T, C, and G). The specific sequence of the nucleic acids holds the instructions that control all the components and their functions in cells.

If the DNA sequence is changed, like a spelling mistake, the instructions may not make sense. The technical term for this change is “mutation,” meaning there is a change to the usual genetic code that may change the instructions stored in the gene. A mutation in a gene that repairs DNA damage or controls cell growth can increase the risk of developing cancer.

Sporadic vs Hereditary Cancers:

Ovarian and breast cancer can be either sporadic or hereditary. Sporadic cancers make up the vast majority (85-90%) of ovarian and breast cancers and are not associated with family history of either cancer or inherited cancer-associated mutations. Sporadic cancers arise from genetic mutations acquired in some cells of the body by events part of normal metabolism and environmental factors. This type of cancer can happen to anyone. Most acquired gene mutations are not shared among relatives or passed on to children.

Hereditary (also known as inherited, or familial) cancers are those that occur due to genetic mutations that are inherited from mom or dad. Other blood relatives may also share these same gene mutations. Parents give one copy of each gene to their children. If a parent has a genetic mutation in a gene, each of their children have a 50% chance of inheriting that mutation. Therefore, even in families with hereditary cancer, not all family members inherit the mutation that is causing cancer, and their risk of cancer is similar to the average person in the general population. Individuals who are suspected to have a family history with high incidence of ovarian, breast, and other cancers may be offered genetic testing to try to find the specific genetic mutation that may put them at risk. Importantly, individuals who do not have a known genetic mutation but have high incidence of ovarian, breast, or other cancers in their families are still considered at higher risk for developing those cancers.

Hereditary cancers often occur at an earlier age than the sporadic form of the same cancer, so experts often recommend starting cancer screening at a younger age for individuals at high risk for hereditary cancer. Hereditary cancers can also be more aggressive than the sporadic form of the same cancer. Individuals who have inherited a gene mutation may be at a higher risk for more than one type of cancer.

BRCA 1 and BRCA 2: Most Common hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

The genes that are most commonly involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) are BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes are named for their link to breast (BR) cancer (CA), but they are also linked to ovarian cancer risk as well as other cancers. Both women and men can inherit mutations in these HBOC genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes that have a usual role in our body of providing instructions on repairing DNA damage and preventing cancer. When a family has an inherited mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, this leads to an increase in cancer risk. Not every man or woman who has inherited a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene will develop cancer, but people who have a mutation do have a significanlty increased chance of developing cancer, particularly cancer of the breasts or ovaries.

While breast and ovarian cancers are the most common cancers diagnosed in people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, the risk of some other cancers is also increased. Men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of early-onset prostate cancer than men without mutations in either gene. Other cancers seen at increased rates, particularly in individuals with BRCA2 mutations, include pancreatic cancer and melanoma. Researchers are continuing to find new genes that are involved in hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer so it is important to follow up with a genetic counselor on a regular basis if hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is likely in your family.

Talk to your family about your health history and take the Assess Your Risk quiz here

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