General information for people with inherited CHEK2 mutations
Both men and women can carry an inherited mutation in the CHEK2 gene.
People with an inherited mutation in CHEK2 have increased risk for certain cancers. See the Cancer Risk section for more information. There are guidelines for screening and prevention for certain cancers in people with a CHEK2 mutation. There also may be clinical trials available for people who test positive for a CHEK2 mutation. See our Risk Management section for more information about screening options in people with CHEK2 mutations.
People diagnosed with a CHEK2 mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may qualify for specific treatment or clinical trials. Visit the Cancer Treatment section for more information about clinical trials for people with a CHEK2 mutation
The name CHEK2 stands for Checkpoint Kinase 2." The gene is located on chromosome 22. CHEK2 helps control how cells divide.
If you are a person with a CHEK2 mutation, you can find peer support through the following resources:
- FORCE blog: Read stories submitted by people with CHEK2 mutations
- Video: FORCE members with a CHEK2 mutation
- FORCE's Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation and provide you with a free resource guide.
- Register for the FORCE Message Boards to connect with others who share your situation. Once you register, you can post on the Share Your Mutation board to connect with other people who carry a CHEK2 mutation and the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Contact the FORCE impact leaders in your area to link to local support groups and other resources.
- Attend a virtual support meeting in your area.
- FORCE's eXaming the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you. You can search for articles related to CHEK2 by doing a keyword search.
- Genetics Home Reference is a site from the U.S. Library of Medicine that provides consumer-friendly information about the effects of an BRCA2 mutation on human health.