FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Testing

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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

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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

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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.

Research Collaborations

Learn about ongoing studies, and the role that FORCE, our research advocates, and our partners have played in shaping the research.

Privacy, Policy and Legal Issues

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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.

Support

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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.

Local Support

FORCE has volunteers throughout the United States and in Essex, United Kingdom who are available to offer support and share resources.

Support Meetings and Events

Attend support meetings or learn from experts at webinars and conferences. You can ask questions, share your story or just listen.

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.

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

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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.

Have you been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? Are you at high risk? Learn about pancreatic cancer risk, screening and treatment.

Pancreatic Cancer

I am here to learn about:

Genetic Testing Lynch Syndrome I've Tested Positive, Now What? Men with Mutations Managing Menopause Women with Mutations Genetics and Prostate Cancer Genetics and Ovarian Cancer Genetics and Endometrial Cancer Genetics and Colorectal Cancer Biomarker Testing Information for Healthcare Professionals Information for Researchers Genetics and Pancreatic Cancer Genetics and Breast Cancer

Genetic testing for an inherited gene mutation linked to pancreatic cancer can help people with or without pancreatic cancer make medical decisions, protect their own health and the health of their relatives.

We've compiled expert-reviewed resources to help you understand your risk and your medical options for preventing or treating pancreatic cancer and take steps to protect your health and the health of your relatives. Click on each topic below to learn more. If you need additional guidance, please sign up for our Peer Navigation Program. You are not alone.

Are You At High Risk?

Factors that affect pancreatic cancer risk

Signs of an inherited mutation

Benefits of genetic testing

How to get genetic testing

How to find a genetic counselor

Cancers linked to inherited mutations

Paying for genetic testing

Genes Linked to Increased Risk

CDKN2A and risk

Pancreatic Cancer Screening

Types of screening

BRCA1 guidelines

BRCA2 guidelines

CDKN2A guidelines

PALB2 guidelines

MLH1 guidelines

STK11 guidelines

TP53 guidelines

Paying for screening

Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Stages and subtypes

Standard therapy

Biomarkers, targeted and immunotherapies

Treatment with PARP inhibitors

DNA damage repair and cancer treatment

Paying for treatment

Research and media coverage of pancreatic cancer

Sharing With Family

Importance of sharing

Collecting and sharing health information

Sharing genetic test results with adult relatives

Brochure: The Genes Between Us

Worksheet: Sharing with Family

Sharing information with children

Prevention and Treatment Research

Featured research

Search for treatment clinical trials

Search for screening and prevention clinical trials

Search for quality of life studies

Your rights as a participant

Tips for searching studies

Pancreatic cancer research findings

Nutrition, Exercise and Weight

Nutrition, exercise and weight

Emotional wellbeing

Sexual health and intimacy

Palliative and integrative care

Webinar: Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Symptom Management

Legal Protections

Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

GINA protections against discrimination in employment and wellness programs

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Webinar: Navigating Insurance Challenges with an Inherited Gene Mutation

Support Resources

Connect with local volunteers

Receive personalized support

Attend a support meeting or event

Participate on our message boards

Subscribe to our updates

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