by Kathy Steligo and Sue Friedman, DVM
An explosion of discoveries since the 2012 publication of our book Confronting Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer has improved what experts know about and how they approach hereditary cancers. Some of the most notable advances include:
- new technology that lowered the cost of genetic testing and improved the ability to search for mutations in many genes in a single test.
- the discovery of mutations in ATM, CHEK2, PALB2 and other genes that have been linked to hereditary breast, ovarian, pancreatic and/or prostate cancer risk. Although less research has been conducted on these genes, more information has become known as more people have had expanded panel testing. Most of these genes now have expert guidelines for risk management.
- increased understanding of the genes linked to Lynch syndrome.
- research on more effective, less invasive options for managing risk.
- the development of targeted therapies to treat cancers in people with inherited mutations found with genetic testing or tumor mutations found with biomarker testing.
In recognition of these changes, FORCE expanded our mission in October 2020 from focusing solely on people with inherited BRCA mutations to also serve people with Lynch syndrome and those with a mutation in lesser-known genes including ATM, PALB2, BRIP1, CHEK2 and others that also raise the risk for one or more cancers.
With so many important changes in the world of hereditary cancer, we needed a new guide that reflects our commitment to providing accurate, up-to-date information and resources to the expanded high-risk community. Living with Hereditary Cancer Risk: What You and Your Family Need to Know, does just that.
Published by Johns Hopkins University Press, Living with Hereditary Cancer Risk: What You and Your Family Need to Know will be available on September 27. This expert-reviewed book is a collaboration by Sue Friedman, FORCE’s founder and executive director; Allison Kurian, MD and director of the Stanford Women’s Clinical Cancer Genetics Program and FORCE advisory board, and board of directors emeritus; and Kathy Steligo, FORCE’s Editor-at-Large, author of The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook and co-author of The Breast Cancer Book.
Living with Hereditary Cancer Risk: What You and Your Family Need to Know is the most comprehensive book available on hereditary cancers, from understanding risk, prevention, genetic counseling and testing, treatment options, quality of life and much more. It also includes “Expert Views” from the world’s genetic experts and personal insights and experiences shared by FORCE members.Wherever you are on the journey, this important new resource will help you along your way as you navigate risk management and/or treatment options.You can take a peek at the Foreword, Table of Contents, and Introduction here. You can also preorder now for yourself, loved ones or anyone you know who is living with high risk or a diagnosis of hereditary cancer.
You can order the book on Amazon for $22.99. Alternatively, you can order it (978-1-4214-4426-0) from Johns Hopkins Press for $18.19 by visiting www.press.jhu.edu/books and entering promotional code HTWN when checking out. Or call 1-800-537-5487 and mention the HTWN code.