FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

Main Menu

Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Testing

Close

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

Close

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

Close

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

Close

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

Close

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 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.

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

Close

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.

Sign Up for FORCE Newsletters
This page provides important information and resources for men and women who have tested positive for an inherited mutation linked to cancer.

I am here to learn about:

Genetic Testing

Women with Mutations

Men with Mutations

LGBTQIA+ and Cancer

Family History and Outreach

Genetics and Breast Cancer

Genetics and Pancreatic Cancer

I've Tested Positive, Now What?

Information for Healthcare Professionals

Biomarker Testing

Managing Menopause

Genetics and Prostate Cancer

Genetics and Ovarian Cancer

Genetics and Endometrial Cancer

Genetics and Colorectal Cancer

Information for Researchers

People with an Inherited Gene Mutation

If you are a man or woman with Lynch syndrome or an inherited mutation in BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, CHEK2, PALB or another gene linked to hereditary cancer, this page has links to information, research and resources for you.

We've compiled expert-reviewed resources to help you make informed decisions about your care. 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.

After Testing, Now What?

Making sense of genetic test results

Finding a genetic counselor

Information about your gene mutation

Assembling your healthcare team

Making medical decisions about risk

Video: ABCs of Cancer Genetics

Hereditary Cancer Treatment

Treatment options by cancer type

Treatment options by treatment type

Treatment options by mutation

Biomarker testing

Paying for treatment

Video: What’s New in Hereditary Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic and Prostate Cancer

Video: What's New in Hereditary Cancer - Lynch Syndrome

Video: Biomarkers and Liquid Biopsies

Video: What are Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapies?

Cancer Risks and Management by Gene Mutation

Cancer screening and risk reduction overview

Cancer risks and guidelines for your gene mutation

Video: Cancer Risks, Screening and Prevention for People with BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutations

Video: Cancer Risks, Screening and Prevention for People with ATM, CHEK2, PALB2 and Other Genes

Video: Cancer Risks, Screening and Prevention for People with Lynch Syndrome

Video: How Do I Decide? Finding Clarity in Decision-Making

Cancer Risks and Management by Cancer Type

Cancer screening and risk reduction overview

Gene mutations linked to different types of cancer

Risk management guidelines for different types of cancer

Video: Colorectal Cancer Screening and Prevention in High-Risk Individuals

Video: What's New in Gynecologic Cancer Screening and Prevention?

Video: What's New in Pancreatic Cancer Screening and Prevention?

Paying for risk management services

Surgery to Reduce Risk

Reconstruction or going flat

Salpingo-oophorectomy

Paying for risk reducing surgery

Hereditary Cancer Research

Featured research

Video: Participating in Clinical Trials for People with Inherited Mutations: Why, When and How

How to search for research studies

Search for screening & prevention studies

Search for treatment studies

Search for quality of life studies

Your rights as a participant

Reviews of cancer research results

Fertility and Family Planning

Cancer treatment and fertility preservation

Assisted reproductive technology (ART)

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)

Pregnancy after cancer

Adoption after cancer

Paying for fertility care & assisted reproductive technology

Video: Fertility and Parenting Issues for Survivors and Previvors

Video: Exploring Your Family Planning Options Through Assisted Reproduction

XRAY reviews of research related to pregnancy and fertility

Wellbeing and Survivorship

Nutrition, exercise and weight

Emotional wellbeing

Sexual health and intimacy

Palliative and integrative care

Video: Treatment Side Effects: Cancer Survivorship

Video: Diet and Nutrition

Video: Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Video: Sexuality and Intimacy Issues for Women

Video: Sexuality and Intimacy Issues for Men

Managing Menopause

Menopause symptoms

Managing menopause without hormones

Managing menopause with hormones

Find a menopause expert

Video: Menopause Management without Hormones

Video: Early Onset Menopause Management with Hormones

Video: Menopause Q & A Panel

XRAY reviews of research on menopause

Find Support

Connect with local volunteers

Attend a Zoom or in-person support meeting or event

Join one of our Zoom community group meeting:

Caregivers
LGBTQIA
Men
Meetings in American Sign Language
Meetings in Spanish
People of Color
Previvors
Young Previvors
Survivors
Young Survivors

Participate on our message boards

Register for our private Facebook group

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 Information with Family

Sharing information with children

Video: Sharing Information with Children

Portal: Family History and Genealogy

Booklet: Talking about BRCA in your family tree

CDC: Talking About Your Family History of Cancer | Bring Your Brave

CDC: Let's Talk: Sharing Info About Your Family Cancer Risk (kognito.com)

Legal Protections

Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

GINA protections against health insurance discrimination

GINA protections against discrimination in employment & wellness programs

Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Video: Your Legal Rights

Video: Navigating Insurance Challenges When You Have a Hereditary Genetic Mutation