FORCE Blog | Genetic counseling

Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Testing

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

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

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.

Privacy, Policy and Legal Issues

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.

Advocacy Day

Advocacy Day brings the community together to educate Members of Congress about important issues faced by people with or at increased risk of hereditary cancers.

Support

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.

Support Meetings and State Volunteers

Attend meetings or connect with volunteers in your state to obtain support, resources and information.

Message Boards

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

Private Facebook Group

In this group, you can connect with others who are affected by hereditary cancer. Let’s unite and support each other.

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

Behind the Headlines (XRAY)

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

Conference

Joining FORCEs Against Hereditary Cancer is a virtual conference designed to empower individuals and families facing hereditary cancer.

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.

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Books And Movies (18)

Breast Reconstruction And Going Flat (11)

Cancer Treatment (14)

Decision Making (4)

Diversity And Inclusion (18)

Emotional Health And Well Being (4)

FORCE And FORCE Impact (30)

Family Communication (3)

Fertility And Parenting (3)

Genetic Testing (23)

Health Equity And Disparities (14)

Health And Fitness (5)

Hereditary Cancer - General (14)

Inspirational (27)

Laws, Protections And Public Policy (27)

Men With Mutations (13)

Partnerships (7)

Quality Of Life (3)

Risk Management (9)

Supporting FORCE (5)

Volunteer Spotlight (61)

What a difference a decade makes

September 30, 2010

What a difference a decade makes

Posted in: Inspirational , FORCE And FORCE Impact
Tags: BRCA , Breast Cancer , Ovarian Cancer , Genetic Counseling , Genetic Testing , BRCA1 , BRCA2 , Previvor , Prophylactic Surgery

Most Recent

Chemotherapy Skin Care and Preventing Skin Infections

FORCE is Grateful for the Genetic Counselors Who Volunteer for Us

Education has Prepared Me to be a Better Advocate

Lynch Syndrome, an ATM Mutation and Issues of Gender Identity and Fertility Access

Volunteer Spotlight – Stephanie Heisser and Pam Hennen

Breast and Endometrial Cancer Leads to a Lynch Syndrome Diagnosis

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

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to FORCE

December 31, 2011

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to FORCE

Posted in: FORCE And FORCE Impact
Tags: BRCA , Hereditary Cancer , Cancer Prevention , Genetic Counseling , Genetic Testing , Prophylactic Mastectomy , BRCA1 , BRCA2 , Previvor

Why Shouldn’t We Have It All?

March 05, 2012

Why Shouldn’t We Have It All?

Posted in: Inspirational , Voices
Tags: BRCA , Hereditary Cancer , Breast Cancer , Cancer Prevention , Hereditary Cancer Research , Ovarian Cancer , Genetic Counseling , Genetic Testing , Prophylactic Mastectomy , BRCA1 , BRCA2 , Previvor , Prophylactic Surgery , Survivor , Young Survivor , Ovarian Cancer Early Detection , HBOC

Overall Health: Addressing the Big Picture

April 02, 2012

Overall Health: Addressing the Big Picture

Posted in: Hereditary Cancer - General
Tags: BRCA , Breast Cancer , Cancer Prevention , Hereditary Cancer Research , Ovarian Cancer , Genetic Counseling , Genetic Testing , Prophylactic Mastectomy , BRCA1 , BRCA2 , Previvor , Prophylactic Surgery , Survivor , Exercise , Fitness , Ovarian Cancer Early Detection , HBOC

October 21, 2020

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

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

June 01, 2012

13 Facts that Men with Hereditary Cancer Risk Should Know

Posted in: Laws, Protections And Public Policy , Men With Mutations
Tags: BRCA, Genetics, Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, BRCA2, Previvor, Survivor, Prostate Cancer, USPSTF

June 12, 2012

A Public Response to Dr. Ivan Oransky

Posted in: FORCE And FORCE Impact , Hereditary Cancer - General
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, Prophylactic Mastectomy, BRCA1, BRCA2, Previvor, Prophylactic Surgery, Survivor, Young Survivor, Exercise, Ovarian Cancer Early Detection, HBOC

July 10, 2012

13 Things That Jewish People Should Know About Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Posted in: Genetic Testing
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, BRCA2, Jewish

August 06, 2012

Applying Personalized Medicine to Disease Screening and Prevention

Posted in: Laws, Protections And Public Policy
Tags: BRCA, Genetics, Hereditary Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Hereditary Cancer Research, Ovarian Cancer, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, Prophylactic Mastectomy, BRCA1, BRCA2, Prophylactic Surgery, Survivor, Ovarian Cancer Early Detection, HBOC, Prostate Cancer, PSA, USPSTF, Early Detection, Personalized Medicine, Screening And Prevention

September 26, 2012

Previvor Day: A Solemn Celebration

Posted in: Inspirational , Voices
Tags: BRCA, Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Genetic Counseling, BRCA1, BRCA2, Previvor

August 16, 2022

JSCREEN and K.I.C.K. Partner to Kick Cancer with Genetic Testing

Posted in: Genetic Testing , Partnerships , Featured Partner
Tags: Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing

March 22, 2013

Gene Discovery, Patents, and the Community

Posted in: FORCE And FORCE Impact , Hereditary Cancer - General
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Breast Cancer, Hereditary Cancer Research, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, BRCA2, Previvor, HBOC, Screening And Prevention

March 15, 2018

Headline Hype: A Picture as Misleading as a Thousand Words

Posted in: XRAY
Tags: Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, 23andme, DTC, Direct To Consumer

November 10, 2022

FORCE is Grateful for the Genetic Counselors Who Volunteer for Us

Posted in: Supporting FORCE , Genetic Testing
Tags: Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing

November 19, 2021

Conference Session Highlight: I'm Not White, Can I Still Have a Mutation?

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

September 14, 2022

Living with Hereditary Cancer Risk: FORCE Takes Another Step Forward for the Hereditary Cancer Community

Posted in: Books And Movies , Hereditary Cancer - General
Tags: Hereditary Cancer, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, Screening And Prevention, Cancer Risk, Inherited Mutations

June 22, 2022

What Chris Evert’s Story Can Teach the World about Genetic Testing

Posted in: Genetic Testing , XRAY
Tags: Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, Variant Of Uncertain Significance

September 20, 2017

WISDOM Study: Investigating a Personalized Approach to Breast Cancer Screening

Posted in: Research
Tags: Hereditary Cancer Research, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, Personalized Medicine, Screening And Prevention, Mammogram

May 11, 2018

Battling BRCA: International Conference in Iceland on BRCA and Cancer

Posted in: Laws, Protections And Public Policy
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Ovarian Cancer, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA2, Previvor, Ovarian Cancer Early Detection, HBOC, Icelandic Founder Mutation

May 14, 2018

Patrick Dempsey Presents CURE Media Ovarian Cancer Hero Awards

Posted in: FORCE And FORCE Impact
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Ovarian Cancer, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, Prophylactic Surgery, Ovarian Cancer Early Detection, HBOC, Fallopian Tube Cancer, Primary Peritoneal Cancer

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

June 17, 2018

Solving for Y: Reaching Men About Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, Prostate And Related Cancers (HBOC)

Posted in: Men With Mutations , Genetic Testing
Tags: BRCA, Hereditary Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, BRCA2, Previvor, HBOC, Prostate Cancer, USPSTF, Screening And Prevention, PALB2, PTEN, Pancreatic Cancer, Male Breast Cancer, CHEK2, ATM

September 12, 2018

Starting a Conversation about My Family Health History

Posted in: Books And Movies
Tags: BRCA, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, Inherited Cancer

November 28, 2018

You Don’t Need a Family History of Cancer to Benefit from Genetic Testing

Posted in: Men With Mutations , Genetic Testing , Guidelines
Tags: Hereditary Cancer, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, BRCA2, Prostate Cancer, Screening And Prevention, Pancreatic Cancer

January 22, 2019

My BRCA2 Story: Mastectomy Without Reconstruction

Posted in: Breast Reconstruction And Going Flat
Tags: Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA2, Screening And Prevention, Reconstruction Or Going Flat, Mastectomy, No Reconstruction, Going Flat

May 30, 2019

Alert: Cancer Genetic Testing Should Be Performed in the Health Care Setting

Posted in: Laws, Protections And Public Policy , Genetic Testing
Tags: Hereditary Cancer, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, BRCA1, BRCA2, Inherited Mutations, 23andme

January 28, 2020

FORCE Supports Broader Access to Genetic Counseling

Posted in: Laws, Protections And Public Policy
Tags: Hereditary Cancer, Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing