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Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Testing

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Hereditary Cancer

Learn about gene changes called mutations, how inherited mutations can lead to cancer, what types of cancer may be hereditary and how parents can pass gene mutations to their children.

What is Genetic Testing?

Explore information about genetic testing for an inherited mutation, the benefits and limitations of genetic testing and the type of results you might receive.

How to Get Genetic Testing

Review expert guidelines regarding who should consider genetic testing, how to find a genetics expert and how to move forward with testing.

Hereditary Cancer Genes and Risk

Read about different genes that are linked to hereditary cancer and the risks associated with inherited mutations in these genes.

After Testing, Now What?

Learn how to make medical decisions and assemble your health care team once you receive your genetic test results.

Sharing with Family

Discover steps that will help you prepare to communicate your family medical history or genetic test results with relatives.

Risk Management and Treatment

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Screening and Risk Reduction

Review national guidelines for cancer screening and prevention; this information is listed by gene mutation and by cancer type.

Cancer Treatment

Read about cancer treatment options listed by gene mutation, type of cancer and type of treatment.

Reconstruction or Going Flat

Understand options for having breast reconstruction or not after mastectomy.

Menopause

Learn about symptoms and options for managing early menopause caused by cancer treatment or preventive surgery.

Wellbeing and Survivorship

Discover how cancer treatment and prevention affects long-term health, quality of life and emotional well-being; explore options for addressing these issues.

Fertility and Family Planning

Understand the effects of cancer treatment and prevention on fertility and family planning, how pregnancy impacts hereditary cancer risk and options for assisted reproduction.

Research and Clinical Trials

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Why Enroll in Research?

Learn why you should consider enrolling in a research study and your rights and protections as a research participant.

How to Find Studies

These tips and resources will help you locate clinical trials and studies enrolling people like you.

Search and Enroll

Ready to enroll? Our tools will help match you to hereditary cancer detection, prevention and treatment studies.

Help Shape Research

FORCE trains patients who are new to science to use their personal experiences to help guide hereditary cancer research.

Research Collaborations

Learn about ongoing studies, and the role that FORCE, our research advocates, and our partners have played in shaping the research.

Privacy, Policy and Legal Issues

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Laws and Protections

Learn about key laws and legal protections that impact people with, or at increased risk of, hereditary cancer; and, how to file a grievance or complaint.

Public Policy Priorities

See what legislative and regulatory policy issues FORCE is actively engaged in, representing the unique needs of people and families affected by hereditary cancer.

Advocacy Archive

Read about the public policy initiatives that FORCE undertook in the past, ensuring that the voice of the hereditary cancer community was heard.

Support

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Personalized Guidance

Get matched with a Peer Navigator volunteer who shares a similar experience as you for confidential 1:1 phone/email support and receive a free expert-reviewed resource guide.

Local Support

FORCE has volunteers throughout the United States and in Essex, United Kingdom who are available to offer support and share resources.

Support Meetings and Events

Attend support meetings or learn from experts at webinars and conferences. You can ask questions, share your story or just listen.

Message Boards

Our message boards are available 24/7 and are the easiest way to reach out to others who are facing hereditary cancer.

Helpline

Peer volunteers return calls within 48 hours and provide nonjudgmental support and resources in English and Spanish. A Genetic Counselor helpline is also available.

Find Healthcare Providers

Locate medical experts who are knowledgeable in cancer genetics.

Insurance and Paying for Care

Find information on insurance coverage and financial assistance for genetic services, risk management and cancer treatment.

Volunteer

FORCE has opportunities for people of our community to get involved in significant ways to raise awareness, provide support or help promote research of hereditary cancer.

Education

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Behind the Headlines (XRAY)

Our XRAY program takes you behind the headlines to bring you reliable information about cancer research-related news and information.

Webinars

Our live and on demand webinars feature presentations by experts on topics of interest and importance to our community.

Blog

Our blogs feature personal perspectives and deep dives into topics of interest to the hereditary cancer community.

Brochures

Order or download our educational materials.

Glossary

Find definitions for commonly used terms.

Our blog features educational information and personal perspectives relevant to the hereditary cancer community.

Education > Our Blog

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Books And Movies (12)

Breast Reconstruction And Going Flat (10)

Cancer Treatment (8)

Decision Making (2)

Emotional Health And Well Being (3)

FORCE And FORCE Impact (28)

Fertility And Parenting (1)

Genetic Testing (14)

Health Equity And Disparities (8)

Health And Fitness (4)

Hereditary Cancer - General (9)

Inspirational (27)

Laws, Protections And Public Policy (27)

Men With Mutations (9)

Quality Of Life (1)

Risk Management (5)

Supporting FORCE (5)

Volunteer Spotlight (50)

Honoring the Life of Teri Woodhull

January 13, 2021

Honoring the Life of Teri Woodhull

Posted in: Voices
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Clinical Trials, FORCE

Most Recent

Honoring the Life of Teri Woodhull

Tracing Our Family Mutation to an Unlikely Place

Volunteer Spotlight – Ashley Dedmon

Courage and Strength are Inherited Too

BRCA Family Traditions

Tracing Our Family Mutation to an Unlikely Place

January 13, 2021

Tracing Our Family Mutation to an Unlikely Place

Posted in: Genetic Testing
Tags: Genetic Testing, BRCA1, Inherited Mutations

Volunteer Spotlight – Ashley Dedmon

January 04, 2021

Volunteer Spotlight – Ashley Dedmon

Posted in: Volunteer Spotlight
Tags: Genetic Testing, BRCA2

Courage and Strength are Inherited Too

December 28, 2020

Courage and Strength are Inherited Too

Posted in: Genetic Testing, Health Equity And Disparities, Hereditary Cancer - General
Tags: Lynch Syndrome, Colorectal Cancer

BRCA Family Traditions

December 10, 2020

BRCA Family Traditions

Posted in: Voices
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Mastectomy, Coping With Risk

My Previvor Journey: My Robotic Mastectomy

December 07, 2020

My Previvor Journey: My Robotic Mastectomy

Posted in: Breast Reconstruction And Going Flat, Voices
Tags: Mastectomy, Robotic

Previvor at 25 - The Beginning has just Begun

November 10, 2020

Previvor at 25 - The Beginning has just Begun

Posted in: Health Equity And Disparities, Previvor
Tags: Genetic Testing, BRCA1, Previvor, HBOC

Is it Safe to Get a Mammogram or Breast MRI During the Pandemic?

November 09, 2020

Is it Safe to Get a Mammogram or Breast MRI During the Pandemic?

Posted in: Risk Management, COVID19
Tags: Screening And Prevention

Pandemic Previvors

November 06, 2020

Pandemic Previvors

Posted in: COVID19
Tags: Previvor, Health, Pandemic, Medical Decisions

Volunteer Spotlight - Dana Tiller

October 30, 2020

Volunteer Spotlight - Dana Tiller

Posted in: Volunteer Spotlight
Tags: Genetic Testing, BRCA1, FORCE, Volunteer

Doing a Better Job at Reaching LatinX People and Families about Hereditary Cancer

October 21, 2020

Doing a Better Job at Reaching LatinX People and Families about Hereditary Cancer

Posted in: Health Equity And Disparities
Tags: Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, Health Disparities, Research

Finding Hope on the Other Side of Surgery After Learning of my ATM Mutation

October 15, 2020

Finding Hope on the Other Side of Surgery After Learning of my ATM Mutation

Posted in: Stories
Tags: Breast Reconstruction, ATM, Risk-reducing Mastectomy

This Cancer Ribbon is Not Pink

October 13, 2020

This Cancer Ribbon is Not Pink

Posted in: XRAY, Cancer Treatment
Tags: Metastatic Breast Cancer

Protections Against Genetic Discrimination vs. Pre-existing Conditions

October 09, 2020

Protections Against Genetic Discrimination vs. Pre-existing Conditions

Posted in: Laws, Protections And Public Policy
Tags: Affordable Care Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

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