The Peak by the community, for the community.
Whatever it is that you have to share—from treatment to intimacy, from a stage 4 diagnosis to mental health, or from surgery prep to grief—we’d love to hear from you!
If you’ve wanted to share your story but haven’t known where to start, consider this your sign!
The Peak Pitch List invites you to dive into a topic related to your experience with breast or GYN cancers, with prompts designed to get your creative juices flowing.
If a topic on the list below calls to you, email thepeak@thebreasties.org to let us know you’d like to write about it. Our editors will then get back to you with specific guidelines and recommendations, including suggested word count and deadlines, if applicable. Please consider the questions as a starting point!
If you have an idea for a story you’d like to share on The Peak, let us know! We welcome all pitches for personal essays, community-sourced recommendation round-ups, and reported articles.
There is a delicate line between feeling seen and feeling targeted, especially when it comes to cancer awareness months. With GYN Awareness Month taking place in September, followed quickly by Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, what role do you think cancer awareness months play for those already impacted by the disease? What role do you wish they played instead? How do you navigate protecting your mental health during these months when things get to be a little too much?
When you are diagnosed with a GYN cancer as an AYA, someone between the ages of 18 to 39, there are considerations at play that don’t impact older populations to the same extent. Most notably, family planning. Did your medical team discuss fertility and reproductive health with you during and after your diagnosis? How has your diagnosis impacted decisions around family planning? What lessons have you learned while making these decisions?
For many people impacted by breast and GYN cancers, surgical menopause is a key part of their treatment or risk-reduction plan. While necessary to remove or reduce the risk of cancer, these surgeries don’t come without their own challenges. You know: the hot flashes, effects on bone density, energy levels, the list goes on. How did you manage the transition into surgical menopause? Is there anything you did before your surgery to help you get ready? What were the biggest surprises afterward?
We’ve all been there. Sitting on the couch, watching a show, when the seemingly inevitable cancer storyline pops up. Often sensationalized and rarely realistic, these storylines can be challenging to watch. On the flip side, true representation can hold power; media can become tools that help articulate your experience or make you feel seen. Tell us about the best Breastie representation in a TV show, book, or movie. What did you like about it? Why did this resonate with you?
A hospital isn’t necessarily the most comfortable place to spend the night, let alone after surgery. What did you pack in your hospital bag that helped the most post-surgery? Was it something that reminded you of home and brought some peace, or something more on the practical side of things?
Send us a link (if possible), a photo, and a short description (between 50 to 100 words) to be included in an upcoming round-up.
There are so many factors that go into understanding your cancer risk, from family history to what’s embedded in your DNA. What questions did you ask your genetic counselor that helped you better understand your risk? Or, what questions do you wish you ask now that you know more about your risk level? These can be anything from the scientific (“How do genetic variants increase risk?”) to the practical (“How should I be screened?”).
Send us your questions and a short explanation (between 50 to 100 words) to be included in an upcoming round-up.
Get all our latest updates right to your inbox.