Andrea Walens Experience Andrea Walens, PhD, is a 30-year-old BRCA1 previvor (meaning she's genetially prediposed to the hereditary breast cancer) located in North Carolina. She is a cancer researcher and a caregiver for those with cancer. She also advocates for patients with cancer and for further cancer research. Her career interests include facilitating cancer research scientifically and administratively and supporting cancer research advocacy initiatives within and outside of her work. Andrea enjoys spending time with her husband and her dog. Sadie. She also likes to visit family, hike in state and national parks, bake, and take care of her many plants she accumulated over quarantine. About Health Health, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for empathetic, trustworthy, and actionable health and wellness information so you can make the best choice for your health. We reach more than 9 million readers a month. We ensure the accuracy of our content by relying on seasoned health journalists, credentialed medical professionals and thorough fact checkers. Learn more about us and our editorial process.