OCTOBER 13 • 2022 | 45

by the age of 40. “And 
approximately around 
that age range, we want 
patients to complete their 
childbearing,” she said.
In 2021, Willens 
was diagnosed and 
courageously defeated 
triple-negative breast 
cancer. As a part of her 
journey, she underwent 20 
rounds of chemotherapy, 
20 rounds of an additional 
immunotherapy and a 
double mastectomy.
“When I was in 
remission from my 
breast cancer and two 
months after my double 
mastectomy, due to 
my elevated risk for 
ovarian cancer with the 
BRAC1 mutation, I made 
the decision with my 
oncologist and my IVF 
doctor to proactively 
remove my ovaries and my 
fallopian tubes,” Willens 
said.
Willens still hopes that 
she can grow her family. 
“The idea of these surgeries 
scared me, because I felt 
like I would be less of a 
woman. I can tell you with 
confidence that I am a 
much stronger version of 
me.”

BUILDING A FAMILY 
AFTER CANCER
The mother of two is now a 
strong advocate for routine 
genetic screening within 
the Jewish community with 
JScreen.
JScreen is a national 
organization that provides 
access to an easy-to-
use at-home saliva test 
that gives people who 
want to have children 

an unprecedented 
understanding of their own 
genetic information and 
associated risks as they 
relate to family planning.
“The benefit and the 
beauty of genetic screening, 
especially in the Ashkenazi 
Jewish population, is 
important to look at these 
mutations in both men and 
women because there is an 
elevated increased risk,” 
Willens added.
“Genetic screening is 
scary and a personal choice 
because you don’t know 
what you’re going to get 
and what you can control. 
But I feel empowered 
by my journey and my 
choices. I feel like my 
health is in my hands, and 
now I can stick around 
and be there for my kids 
and try to help the next 
generation of folks who are 
dealing with these issues.”
Willens hopes the people 
reading her story can also 
proactively make health 
decisions, not just for 
growing their families, but 
for their individual health 
and well-being. 
“My only regret is that 
I didn’t proactively seek 
surgeries to remove my 
organs earlier. I thought 
of my family and my kids, 
but the idea of directly 
addressing my cancer 
risks felt scary and selfish. 
Dealing with a genetic 
diagnosis is a diagnosis. 
And I strongly encourage 
everyone to not only get 
screened, but not to fear 
pro-active steps.” 

To learn more about JScreen Detroit, 

visit jfamily.jccdet.org/jscreen.

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