The #gyncsm community has chatted about gynecologic cancer risks, the genetics of cancer (Genetics and Personalized Medicine), Genetic Counselors and Understanding Gyn Cancer Risk and Hereditary vs Somatic Mutations. HBOC week gives us another opportunity to share resources and information on hereditary ovarian and breast cancers.
About 15% of the ovarian cancers diagnosed are due to germline (inherited and passed on to offspring) mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Having these mutations increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 15-50%. “Nearly one-third of women with hereditary ovarian carcinoma have no close relatives with cancer, and 35% of women with hereditary ovarian carcinoma are older than 60 years at diagnosis”(NCI).
The Society of Gynecologic Oncology released a Clinical Practice statement in 2014 stating that all women diagnosed with ovarian, tubal and primary peritoneal cancer regardless of age or family history should receive counseling and be offered a genetic test. (https://www.sgo.org/clinical-practice/guidelines/genetic-testing-for-ovarian-cancer/)
F.O.R.C.E. (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) has played a crucial role in raising awareness, providing information and supporting research into hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. "The goal of HBOC Week and Previvor Day is to raise awareness about hereditary cancer. HBOC Week marks the transition between National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and recognizes anyone affected by hereditary breast or ovarian cancer, including women and men with BRCA mutations, people with a family history of cancer, breast and ovarian cancer survivors, and previvors, individuals who carry a strong predisposition to cancer but have not developed the disease."
We hope you find these resources helpful.
Hereditary Cancer Resources:
Bright Pink
www.bebrightpink.org
F.O.R.C.E. (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered)
http://www.facingourrisk.org/
Sharsheret
http://www.sharsheret.org/
BRCA Mutation
http://www.cancer.gov/
Lynch syndrome
http://www.cancer.
Cowden syndrome
http://www.cancer.
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
https://www.lfsassociation.org/what-is-lfs/
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/peutz-jeghers-syndrome
Genetics:
National Society of Genetics Counselors http://nsgc.org/
Find a Counselor Tool: http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/
Dee
#gyncsm Co-Founder
