By Amy Byer Shainman, @BRCAresponder

Love, Danielle is the narrative feature film I produced about a woman navigating hereditary cancer risk and the deeply personal decisions that come with it.

From the first draft of the script to the final edit, one guiding idea remained constant. Danielle’s decisions were Danielle’s decisions. They were shaped entirely by her history, her emotions, her values, and her understanding of her individual risk of developing cancer. I wanted to be a part of shaping a story that showed the emotional reality of living in the before stage, before certainty, before cancer; be a part of changing the narrative and put visibility on previvors, a significantly underrepresented group in healthcare storytelling. The film includes some universal truths to enlighten healthcare providers and, hopefully, make previvors feel seen. However, Danielle’s journey is not a medical recommendation or a template to follow. Her decisions were hers, and hers alone.

For anyone new to this space, a previvor is someone living with an inherited mutation, a family history of cancer, or some other predisposing factor that increases their risk for cancer but who has never been diagnosed with cancer. We share a common language: risk-reducing surgery, surveillance, genetics, family history, and uncertainty. Yet, our decisions remain intensely personal, which is central to the film’s message.

One of my favorite moments and one of the most visceral scenes in the film comes when Danielle receives her genetic testing results, which reveal that she carries a BRCA1 gene mutation. We did not want this moment to feel calm or simple. Instead, we used sound to reflect how overwhelming and disorienting life-changing medical information can feel from the inside. As Danielle’s doctor speaks, his voice drifts and distorts, becoming muffled and hard to follow. So many previvors have described this exact feeling. You hear the words, but you cannot focus. Some people freeze. Some panic. Some have trouble remembering the details. There is no correct emotional response when your world suddenly shifts.

Later, in her genetic counseling session, Danielle learns more about her BRCA1 gene mutation and what it means for her. We worked closely with a certified genetic counselor to ensure this scene reflects the heart of what a certified genetic counselor provides. It is about giving a person context and clarity, not pushing them toward any single outcome. Danielle learns that she has options and that she does not need to decide everything at once. We show that, when delivered with care, insight can help someone move from fear into a sense of agency. Many previvors work with genetic counselors, gynecologists, oncologists, surgeons, or other health care providers to build a personalized cancer risk management plan.

Danielle’s family history also shapes the emotional part of her decision-making. Family history is more than just a medical record. It is memory, grief, love, trauma, resilience, and lived experience. If you watched a parent or sibling face cancer, your choices may feel urgent. If your family history is unclear, your decisions may feel abstract. If you are the first in your family to test positive for a gene mutation, you may feel alone with the weight of this information. These differences shape individual choices, which is why two people with the same gene mutation may make very different decisions about cancer risk management.

Previvors often ask one another what they chose, when they decided, and whether they would choose the same path again. These conversations can be helpful, comforting, and grounding. Support is essential, but what was right for them may not be right for you.

Additionally, family and friends may offer their opinions on what they believe you should do. Although their intentions usually stem from love, worry, or fear, outside opinions can also create pressure or confusion.

We see this dynamic in the film as Danielle navigates the opinions and emotions of the people around her. They care deeply, but they cannot carry the physical or emotional outcomes of her decisions. A friend or family member can love you completely and still not be the right person to determine your medical plan.

Every decision regarding cancer risk management is profoundly personal; it’s what you can accept and live with. Your age matters, your life stage matters. Your family building plans matter. Your mental health matters. Your comfort with surgery matters. Your insurance situation matters. Your past experiences matter. Your intuition matters, your emotional readiness matters. Your plan can evolve as your life evolves. No one else has to live in your body or recover from surgeries. Only you do.

Although previvors share many universal experiences, our paths remain our own. Danielle’s story illustrates how a person moves from shock to information gathering to making a decision that feels right for her. It is not the only path; it is just one path. It is Danielle’s path.

If you are a previvor reading this, it is vital to recognize that your journey is uniquely yours. You do not have to follow the choices made by others. You are neither behind or ahead of anyone else, and it is perfectly OK not to be OK or not to have all the answers right now. You are facing one of the most personal and complex decision-making situations imaginable, and it is normal to navigate this path without perfect clarity.

Give yourself compassion.

Give yourself space.

Give yourself permission to choose what you can carry.

You deserve support as you move through this, and you deserve to move at your own pace and ultimately, make the decisions that are best for you.

Just like Danielle.

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Amy Byer Shainman is a BRCA1 carrier, previvor, advocate, author, and film producer dedicated to educating and empowering individuals and families about BRCA and other hereditary cancer syndromes. Known as BRCA Responder, she is the executive producer of the award winning films Love, Danielle and Pink and Blue: Colors of Hereditary Cancer, and the author of the medical memoir Resurrection Lily: The BRCA Gene, Hereditary Cancer & Lifesaving Whispers from the Grandmother I Never Knew. Amy brings visibility, clarity, and support to the hereditary cancer community through storytelling and lived experience.

Love, Danielle is an award-winning narrative feature about one woman navigating hereditary cancer risk and the deeply personal choices that come with it. Co-written by and starring Devin Sidell and executive produced by Amy Byer Shainman, Love, Danielle is currently available in North America on Apple TV, Amazon, and other major digital platforms. Learn more: Love, Danielle