Choosing Prevention Before Cancer: Aliza Friedlander on BRCA, Motherhood, and Taking Back Control

What happens when knowing your genetic risk could change the entire course of your life? In this powerful episode of Moms Like Me, Jordan sits down with Aliza Friedlander, a mom of three and BRCA1 previvor, to talk about the deeply personal decisions that come with genetic testing, cancer prevention, and protecting both your physical and mental health. Aliza shares how her family's history with breast cancer led to years of uncertainty, why she waited a decade before getting tested, and what changed after her younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32. From prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction to a complete hysterectomy and surgically induced menopause, Aliza opens up about the emotional, physical, and practical realities of choosing prevention before a diagnosis. She also reflects on advocacy, clinical trials, hormone replacement therapy, and why there is no one-size-fits-all path when it comes to medical decisions. This conversation is a reminder that knowledge is powerful, but so is timing, support, and trusting yourself enough to ask better questions.