FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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People diagnosed with Lynch syndrome have an increased risk for colorectal, endometrial and other cancers. Options are available for cancer treatment, screening and prevention for people with Lynch syndrome.

I am here to learn about:

Genetics and Colorectal Cancer

LGBTQIA+ and Cancer

Genetic Testing

Women with Mutations

Men with Mutations

Genetics and Ovarian 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 Endometrial Cancer

Information for Researchers

Lynch Syndrome

If you have been diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, you have may questions about your medical care. This page has information on cancer risk, screening, prevention and treatment for people with an inherited mutation in a Lynch syndrome gene.

We've compiled expert-reviewed resources to help you take steps to protect your own 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.

After Testing, Now What?

Lynch syndrome, which gene?

Finding a genetic counselor

Assembling your healthcare team

Making medical decisions about risk

Options for detecting and preventing cancer

FORCE video: ABCs of Cancer Genetics

Lynch Syndrome Cancer Risks

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

Screening and Prevention Guidelines

Screening and prevention overview

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

Colorectal Cancer Screening & Prevention

Colorectal cancer screening

Medications to lower risk

Surgery to lower risk

Webinar: Colorectal cancer screening and prevention in high-risk individuals

Endometrial Cancer Screening & Prevention

Endometrial cancer screening

Medications to lower risk

Surgery to lower risk

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

FORCE checklist: Hysterectomy Surgery

Spot Her website

Ovarian Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction

Ovarian cancer screening

Medication to reduce risk

Surgery to reduce risk

Finding ovarian cancer experts

Insurance and paying for risk-reducing surgery

Checklist: Preparing for oophorectomy surgery

Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Stages and subtypes

Standard therapy

Biomarkers, targeted and immunotherapies

DNA damage repair and cancer treatment

Mismatch repair and MSI-high cancers

Endometrial Cancer Treatment

Standard therapy

Biomarkers, targeted and immunotherapies

DNA damage repair and cancer treatment

Mismatch repair and MSI-high cancers

FORCE checklist: Hysterectomy Surgery

Spot Her website

Managing Menopause

Menopause symptoms

Managing menopause without hormones

Managing menopause with hormones

Find a menopause expert

XRAY review: Hormone Therapy after Ovary Removal

Webinar: Long Term Consequences of Menopause

Webinar: Managing Menopause with and without Hormones

Fertility and Family Planning

Cancer treatment and fertility preservation

Assisted reproductive technology (ART)

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)

Paying for fertility care and assisted reproductive technology

Webinar: Fertility and Parenting Issues for Survivors and Previvors

Webinar: Exploring Your Family Planning Options through Assisted Reproduction

COVID-19 and Cancer

FORCE information: COVID-19

Video: Concerns About Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Mutations

XRAY review : COVID boosters: What people with cancer should know

XRAY review: COVID vaccines for people with cancer

XRAY review: COVID-19 and cancer

Webinar: Information about COVID-19 for people with, or at high risk for, ovarian or endometrial cancer

Webinar: Information about COVID-19 for people with, or at high risk for colorectal cancer

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 and wellness programs

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Webinar: Navigating Insurance Challenges with an Inherited Mutation

Paying for Care

Paying for genetic counseling and testing

Paying for screenings

Paying for treatment

Health insurance appeals

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

Webinar: Insurance & Your Legal Rights

Wellbeing and Survivorship

Nutrition, exercise and weight

Emotional wellbeing

Sexual health and intimacy

Palliative and integrative care

Webinar: Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Symptom Management

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

Support Resources

Connect with local volunteers

Receive personalized support

Attend a 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

Read stories submitted by people with Lynch syndrome.

Watch our video by members with Lynch syndrome.

Subscribe to our updates

Spot Her website

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