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Policy Archive
Successful Effort
Establishment of National HBOC Week and Previvor Day
On September 15th, 2010, in a unanimous show of support, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of a Resolution sponsored by Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) establish National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day. National HBOC week is now recognized as an annual event, beginning the last Sunday in September and ending the first Saturday in October. National Previvor Day occurs on the Wednesday of that week.
The timing—the transition between National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September) and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)—demonstrates the link between these two cancers. It is estimated that up to 25% of ovarian cancers are due to hereditary factors and approximately 10% of breast cancers are hereditary. FORCE is proud to have spearheaded this initiative to bring attention to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndromes and to recognize their impact on the families affected.
Read the text of the resolution, H Res #1522.
Update: With the growth of the hereditary cancer community and expansion of FORCE's mission to serve a broader population, National Hereditary Cancer Week was instituted in 2020.
News Briefs
4/3/2024 - Submitted comments to Senator Cassidy and the HELP Committee in response to an RFI regarding oversight of clinical diagnostic tests, known as in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and laboratory-developed tests (LDTs).
3/15/2024 - Joined the Coalition to Increase Access to Cancer Care (CIACC) in comments to House leadership on efforts to strengthen the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and emphasize the need to pass the Cancer Drug Parity Act.
3/1/2024 - Provided feedback to CMS on the Medicare Advantage Advanced Notice and accompanying Part D Redesign Program provisions aimed at reducing and managing beneficiary out-of-pocket costs in the Medicare Part D program.
2/29/2024 - Wrote sponsors to endorse the BENEFIT Act, which would require the FDA to include in the benefit-risk assessment framework of a new drug application how patient experience data was considered in the review process.
Related Resources
State and Local HBOC Week & Previvor Day Proclamations
- Michigan HBOC Week proclamation 2016 - September 25-October 1, 2016: Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week
- City of Cincinnati HBOC Week / Previvor Day Proclamation 2012
- Delhi Township 2012 HBOC Week / Previvor Day Proclamation
Select Press Coverage & Blogs
- Official National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and Previvor Day, Miami's Community Newspapers
- 'Our BRCA positive marriage,' Bryna Siegel Finer, philly.com
- Celebrating HBOC Week: Previvors Have Come So Far—But Still Have a Long Way to Go, Dina Roth Port
- National Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer Week, Nancy's Point: A blog about breast cancer & loss
- Did You Know It's Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week?, Ms. Magazine Blog
- National HBOC Week and National Previvor Day 2014, Breast Reconstruction: Your Choice, breastrecon.com