Stories
Our blog features information and personal perspectives on topics of interest to the hereditary cancer community.
April 03, 2023
BRCA1 On Top of Lynch Syndrome, An Unexpected Finding for Our Family
Posted in...:
Risk Management ,
Genetic Testing ,
Stories ,
Family Communication
Tags:
Genetic Testing ,
BRCA1 ,
Lynch Syndrome

March 01, 2023
Lynch Syndrome Lurked in My Family’s Genes for Years Before Colon Cancer Took My Son
Posted in:
Men With Mutations ,
Stories ,
Diversity And Inclusion
Tags:
Genetic Counseling ,
Genetic Testing ,
Lynch Syndrome ,
Colorectal Cancer
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February 27, 2023
This Boy We Made: The Beautiful Story of a Mother Advocating for Her Son’s Health and Ultimately Discovering Her Own BRCA2 Mutation in the Process
Posted in:
Books And Movies ,
Stories ,
Fertility And Parenting ,
Diversity And Inclusion
Tags:
BRCA2 ,
Health Disparities ,
Mental Health ,
Women Of Color

February 13, 2023
Preventative Surgeries at Age 32 Because of My BRCA1 Gene Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
Ovarian Cancer ,
Genetic Counseling ,
Genetic Testing ,
Prophylactic Mastectomy ,
BRCA1 ,
Risk-reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy ,
Mental Health ,
Coping With Risk
November 01, 2022
Lynch Syndrome, an ATM Mutation and Issues of Gender Identity and Fertility Access
Posted in:
Health Equity And Disparities ,
Stories ,
Fertility And Parenting ,
Previvor ,
Diversity And Inclusion
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
ATM ,
Lynch Syndrome ,
Health Disparities ,
Health Equity ,
Mental Health
October 03, 2022
Why I Chose Preventive Mastectomy
Posted in:
Stories ,
Previvor
Tags:
Prophylactic Mastectomy ,
BRCA2 ,
Previvor ,
Decision Making
September 21, 2022
Getting Past the Shock of a Previvor Diagnosis and Making a Plan
Posted in:
Stories ,
Previvor
Tags:
BRCA2 ,
Previvor ,
Medical Decisions
May 02, 2022
African American Women Need to Know More About High-Risk Breast Cancer
Posted in:
Health Equity And Disparities ,
Stories ,
Cancer Treatment ,
Diversity And Inclusion
Tags:
BRCA1 ,
Metastatic Breast Cancer ,
Mbc ,
Health Disparities ,
Health Equity ,
Women Of Color ,
Minority Cancer Awareness
April 05, 2022
“You are BRCA2-Positive”: Studies that Have Helped Me
Posted in:
Research ,
Stories
Tags:
BRCA ,
Ovarian Cancer ,
BRCA2 ,
Research Studies
February 11, 2022
BRCA2, Early-Stage Prostate Cancer and a Decision at 54
Posted in:
Men With Mutations ,
Stories
Tags:
BRCA ,
BRCA2 ,
Prostate Cancer
January 06, 2022
Debbie Denardi: Finding Community With Hereditary Cancer
Posted in:
Genetic Testing ,
Stories ,
Diversity And Inclusion
Tags:
Genetic Testing ,
Family Story
December 16, 2021
The Many Faces of FORCE - Videos from Our Members
Posted in:
Stories ,
Diversity And Inclusion
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
#1FORCECommunity ,
Inspiration
November 03, 2021
What does the ‘breast cancer gene’ mean for men? For some, pancreatic and prostate cancer
Posted in:
Men With Mutations ,
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Breast Cancer ,
BRCA1 ,
Prostate Cancer ,
Pancreatic Cancer ,
Men With Mutations
October 28, 2021
Do Not Wait: Empowering Other Families by Sharing My Story
Posted in:
Genetic Testing ,
FORCE And FORCE Impact ,
Stories ,
Diversity And Inclusion ,
Family Communication
Tags:
BRCA ,
Metastatic Breast Cancer ,
Family Story
September 09, 2021
After Three Cancer Diagnoses and a Positive BRCA Test, Endometrial Cancer
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA ,
Breast Cancer ,
Uterine Cancer ,
Endometrial Cancer
June 14, 2021
Surviving, and Thriving, as a Dad with a Cancer Gene Mutation
Posted in:
Men With Mutations ,
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
BRCA2 ,
Men With Mutations
March 05, 2021
After Three Cancer Diagnoses, a Sense of Peace after Learning of My Lynch Syndrome Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Lynch Syndrome ,
Endometrial Cancer
January 25, 2021
Hereditary Colorectal Cancer: My AFAP Story
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Colorectal Cancer ,
AFAP ,
Hereditary Colon Cancer Syndrome
October 15, 2020
Finding Hope on the Other Side of Surgery After Learning of my ATM Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
ATM ,
Risk-reducing Mastectomy
August 25, 2020
I Beat Three Cancers Caused by a BRCA1 Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
Ovarian Cancer ,
BRCA1 ,
Fallopian Tube Cancer ,
Primary Peritoneal Cancer
August 24, 2020
PARP Inhibitor Treatment Is Helping My Pancreatic Cancer
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA1 ,
Pancreatic Cancer ,
PARP Inhibitor ,
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment ,
Men With Mutations
August 24, 2020
Luck Is More Than Just A Rainbow: A PALB2 Previvor's Story
August 24, 2020
I Knew There Was an Explanation for the Cancer in My Family, Including My Own Three Diagnoses
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Ovarian Cancer ,
Survivor
August 24, 2020
I Am a Proud Previvor
Posted in:
Stories ,
Caregivers
Tags:
BRCA ,
Previvor ,
Metastatic Breast Cancer
August 24, 2020
A New Job, a New City and a New BRCA2 Diagnosis
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA2 ,
Peer Navigation ,
Support
August 24, 2020
Breast Cancer and a CHEK2 Mutation AT 28
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
CHEK2 ,
Mastectomy
August 24, 2020
My BRCA1 Mutation Came From My Spanish Grandmother
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Diversity ,
Health Equity ,
Breast Cancer Survivors ,
Latinx
August 24, 2020
A Brother and Sister Breast Cancer Story
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Prostate Cancer ,
Cancer Advocacy ,
Male Breast Cancer ,
Men With Mutations
August 24, 2020
I Am BRCA2 Positive. At 31, Who Would Have Guessed?
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
BRCA2 ,
Cancer Advocacy
August 24, 2020
How a BRCA2 Diagnosis and Breast Cancer Enabled Me to Help Others
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
BRCA2 ,
DCIS
August 24, 2020
It’s Not Easy to Be a Male Cancer Survivor
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA1 ,
Male Breast Cancer ,
Men With Mutations ,
Bladder Cancer
August 24, 2020
My Wife’s BRCA1 Breast and Ovarian Cancer Experience – From My Perspective
Posted in:
Stories ,
Caregivers
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
Ovarian Cancer ,
Caregiver ,
Supporting Force
August 24, 2020
I Am a Two-Time Survivor of Breast Cancer Caused by a PALB2 Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
PALB2 ,
Breast Cancer Survivors ,
Breast Cancer Treatment
August 24, 2020
MI HISTORIA FAMILIAR HISPANA DE BRCA
August 24, 2020
Thyroid Cancer and a CHEK2 Genetic Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
CHEK2 ,
Support ,
Thyroid Cancer
August 24, 2020
A Mother and Daughter: BRCA2 Mutation and Lynch Syndrome
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA2 ,
Lynch Syndrome ,
Uterine Cancer ,
Endometrial Cancer
August 24, 2020
My ATM Breast Cancer Story
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
ATM ,
Mastectomy ,
DCIS ,
COVID19
August 24, 2020
Breast Cancer and Then a PALB2 Mutation Inherited From My Father
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
PALB2 ,
Men With Mutations
August 24, 2020
A Family Tree Full of CHEK2 Breast Cancer
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Previvor ,
CHEK2 ,
Family Story ,
Family Tree
August 24, 2020
Male Breast and Prostate Cancer and a BRCA1 VUS Diagnosis
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA1 ,
Prostate Cancer ,
Male Breast Cancer ,
VUS ,
Variants Of Uncertain Significance
August 24, 2020
Overcoming Hereditary Breast Cancer Risks in the Haitian Community
Posted in:
Health Equity And Disparities ,
Stories ,
Diversity And Inclusion
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
DCIS ,
Health Disparities ,
Health Equity ,
Haitian ,
Black Women
August 24, 2020
My Dad’s Cancer Diagnosis Made Me a Previvor at the Age of 22
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA ,
Pancreatic Cancer ,
Men With Mutations ,
Support ,
Family Story
August 24, 2020
The Importance of Talking About Family Medical History: The Discussion That Led to My ATM and PALB2 Diagnosis
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Breast Cancer ,
PALB2 ,
ATM ,
Colorectal Cancer ,
Family Story ,
Family Tree
August 24, 2020
My Ashkenazi Jewish Heritage Increased My Risk for the BRCA2 Mutation That Led to My Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
BRCA2 ,
Ovarian ,
Jewish ,
Family Story ,
Family Tree ,
Ashkenazi
August 24, 2020
Love, Life and Lynch Syndrome
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Lynch Syndrome ,
Colorectal Cancer ,
Endometrial Cancer
August 24, 2020
Male Breast Cancer and a CHEK2 Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Genetic Testing ,
Male Breast Cancer ,
CHEK2
August 01, 2020
A PALB2 Gene has Taken a Terrible Toll on my Family
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Breast Cancer ,
Genetic Testing ,
Previvor ,
PALB2
July 04, 2020
Breast and Endometrial Cancer Leads to a Lynch Syndrome Diagnosis
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Genetic Counseling ,
Genetic Testing ,
Lynch Syndrome ,
Endometrial Cancer
May 22, 2020
I am a PALB2 Previvor
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Genetic Testing ,
PALB2
May 10, 2020
Expanded Panel Testing Uncovered My ATM Mutation
Posted in:
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Genetic Testing ,
ATM ,
Mastectomy
August 12, 2019
My CDH1 Mutation and Why I Chose Preventive Gastrectomy
Posted in:
Risk Management ,
Men With Mutations ,
Genetic Testing ,
Stories
Tags:
Hereditary Cancer ,
Genetic Testing ,
Previvor ,
Cdh1
June 14, 2018
Me and My MSH6 Mutation: Ever Searching for Answers
Posted in:
XRAY ,
Stories
Tags:
BRCA ,
Genetic Counseling ,
Genetic Testing ,
Lynch Syndrome ,
Breast Cancer Risk ,
MSH6