Read about different genes that are linked to hereditary cancer, their associated risks and guidelines for screening, preventing and treating cancers in people with inherited mutations in these genes.
Hereditary Cancer Genes and Risk > By Gene Mutation > CHEK2 > Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatment for people with mutations
People with an inherited mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may have different treatment options than people without a mutation. To learn more about standard of care treatment options for specific types of cancer, visit our section on Cancer Treatment by Cancer Type.
If you have an inherited mutation, have been diagnosed with cancer and any of the situations below apply to you, you may wish to speak to your doctor about your medical options. You may also consider enrolling in a clinical trial studying which treatments work best for people with an inherited mutation.
- You are making breast cancer surgical decisions
- You have prostate cancer
- You have advanced ovarian cancer
Regardless of cancer type, people with a mutation may qualify for clinical trials looking for more effective treatments for cancer.
Surgical decisions for women diagnosed with breast cancer
Because of the increased risk for a second breast cancer diagnosis, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer who test positive for an inherited mutation in may choose mastectomy rather than and radiation. Mutation carriers who undergo mastectomy are less likely to develop a second breast cancer.
PARP inhibitors
PARP inhibitors are a type of that work by blocking a protein used to repair damaged . They were initially developed to treat cancers in people with an inherited or mutation. Since then, research and additional approvals have expanded use of PARP inhibitors to more situations. People with an mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may want to ask their doctor about therapy.
prostate cancer
The , Lynparza (olaparib) has received FDA-approval to treat men with , castration-resistent cancer, who have a mutation in or another gene linked to a certain type of damage repair. Lynparza may be used to treat men whose cancer has progressed on enzalutamide (Xtandi) or abiraterone (Zytiga).
Get Support
FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations.
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once registered, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Our Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Our moderated, private Facebook group allows you to connect with other community members 24/7.
- Check out our virtual and in-person support meeting calendar.
- Join one of our Zoom community group meetings.
updated: 08/06/2022
Related Resources
The following resources focus on mutations.
- FORCE resources:
- Information: gene mutations
- Video: What's new for people with , or mutations?
- Video: Genes Associated with Risk: Live Q&A Panel
- Video: Cancer Risks, Screening & Prevention for People w/ , , & Other Genes
- Blog: Breast Cancer and a Mutation AT 28
- Blog: Thyroid Cancer and a Genetic Mutation
- Blog: Male Breast Cancer and a Mutation
- Blogs:
- XRAY category:
- Video: Get to Know FORCE's Community
- Resources from other organizations:
- Genetics Home Reference is a site from the U.S. Library of Medicine that provides consumer-friendly information about the effects of an mutation on people's health.
updated: 11/14/2022
Paying For Care
Paying for cancer treatment
The majority of public and private health insurance plans are required to cover cancer diagnosis and treatment; copays, coinsurance and deductibles often apply. Patient costs and coverage for specific doctors, facilities or treatments may vary based on your health plan. Visit our section on Insurance and Paying for Care: Treatment for more information, links to sample appeal letters and other resources.
If you need information about finding an insurance plan, watch our video: Choosing Wisely: How to Pick Insurance Plans.
Some pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs that help cover the cost for their medications:
- Astellas Patient Assistance Program
- AstraZeneca Access 360
- Bayer US Patient Assistance Foundation
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation
- Eisai Patient Assistance Program
- Genentech Access Solutions
- GSK for You
- Janssen Patient Access Program
- LIlly Cares
- Merck Helps
- Pfizer Oncology Together
- Novartis Patient Assistance
- Sanofi Patient Connection
- Seattle Genetics' SeaGen Secure
- Taiho's Patient Support Program
- Takeda's Help at Hand
- Trodelvy Access Services
Organizations that offer co-pay assistance:
- Cancercare
- Patient Advocate Foundation
- Colorectal Cancer Alliance offers financial support to people in treatment for colorectal cancer.
Other resources:
- The American Cancer Society provides information and resources on covering the cost of cancer care. Public assistance, such as Medicaid may be available if you are ineligible for other programs.
- Needy Meds: Assistance programs to help patients with cost of medications and other healthcare.
- Triage Cancer offers tools and resources to help individuals cope with the financial aspects of a cancer diagnosis.
updated: 11/20/2022
Open Clinical Trials
The following are studies looking at treatment for people with advanced .
- NCT05252390: NUV-868 Alone and in Combination With PARP Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced . This study will test how safe and effective the experimental drug NUV-868 is by itself and in combination with a in people with advanced . This study is open to people whose cancer stopped responding or progressed on PARP inhibitors.
- NCT05169437: () in patients with inherited or tumor mutations in advanced (PAVO). PAVO is a Phase II study investigating if the study drug, a called , is safe and effective for certain people who have been diagnosed with an advanced solid tumor with either an inherited or tumor mutation.
- NCT02264678: Ascending Doses of Ceralasertib in Combination With Chemotherapy and/or Novel Anti Cancer Agents. This is a study of ceralasertib administered orally in combination with chemotherapy regimens and/or novel anti-cancer agents, to patients with advanced cancer. The study is enrolling people with inherited mutations including , , , , and people with tumors that are HRD-positive.
- NCT04644068: Study of AZD5305 as Monotherapy and in Combination With Anti-cancer Agents in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies (PETRA). This research is designed to learn if treatment with a new , AZD5305, alone, or in combination with anti-cancer agents is safe, tolerable, and has anti-cancer activity in patients with advanced . The study is open to people who have previously been treated with PARP inhibitors.
- NCT04267939: ATR Inhibitor Plus Study in Advanced and Ovarian Cancer. This study will look at how well how well people with advanced respond to treatment with the BAY1895344 in combination with the . This study is open to people with inherited mutations in , , and others. Contact the study coordinator for information about eligilibity for people with mutations in other genes.
- NCT04657068: Treatment with ATR Inhibitor for Advanced or Solid Tumors. This study will look at how well a new oral known as an ATR inhibitor works on advanced or with mutations in genes linked to damage repair. This study is open to people who have an inherited or acquired or mutation or people with tumors that are HRD-positive. This study is open to people whose cancer stopped responding or progressed on PARP inhibitors.
updated: 08/23/2022
Open Clinical Trials
The following are studies looking at PARP inhibitors as treatment for advanced breast cancer:
- NCT05169437: () in patients with inherited or tumor mutations in advanced (PAVO). PAVO is a Phase II study investigating if the study drug, a called , is safe and effective for certain people who have been diagnosed with an advanced solid tumor with either an inherited or tumor mutation.
- NCT03344965: Olaparib Expanded - Treating Breast Cancer in People without gBRCA Mutations. This study is looking at whether olaparib is also effective for treating breast cancer in people who do not have an inherited mutation. The study is enrolling people with an inherited mutation in or an acquired (tumor) mutation in or .
- NCT04039230: Study to Evaluate Sacituzumab Govitecan in Combination With in Patients With Breast Cancer. This studies the effect of Antibody-Drug Conjugate Sacituzumab Govitecan in Combination with the PARP Inhibitor in Patients with TNBC.
- NCT03990896: for people with breast cancer who have acquired (somatic) mutations. This is a study for patients with breast cancer without a known mutation in or , who learn they have a or acquired (tumor) mutation, found through .
- NCT02849496: Alone or Plus for Advanced BRCA-Associated Breast Cancer. The goal of this study is to look at whether giving the olaparib in combination with the atezolizumab (Tecentriq) improves outcomes for patients compared to olaparib alone.
- NCT02401347: Beyond (TBB) Trial. The goal of the study is to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of (a type of treatment known as a ) in patients with advanced breast cancer with specific genetic mutations based on a blood, saliva, or tumor test. This study is open to people with inherited mutations , , , , , , , , , and other genes.
A number of other clinical trials for treating patients with breast cancer can be found here.
updated: 06/26/2022