Breast and Ovarian Cancer Connections Sept 11,2019 Chat

This month, which is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, we will be chatting about The Breast and Ovarian Cancer Connection. We are so happy that representatives from FORCE (@FacingOurRisk) and The National Society of Genetic Counselors (@GeneticCouns) will be joining us for the very important discussion.

Cancer can be caused by many things. But when a cancer develops because of an inherited mutation, that is called a hereditary cancer. The most common causes of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) are mutations in the BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes. But other genes such as PALB2, CHEK2, ATM, BRIP1 and RAD51C may also increase one's risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

Topic questions include:

T1A :What is hereditary breast and ovarian cancer(HBOC)?Which are the most commonly affected genes in HBOC? 

 T1B: What information do genetic counselors need to determine risk and the need for women to be tested? 

T2A: What % of women diagnosed with #BC have these mutations? What % with #ovca have these mutations?

T2B: Has the number of prophylactic surgeries increased in the past 10 years? Have celebrity stories about their surgeries  helped or hindered? 

T3: What options do women with a BRCA mutation (Previvors) have to reduce their risk of the diseases? How will the new USPSTF recommendations impact women? 

T4: What is the best way to communicate to women with a mutation regarding their increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers? Patients: who shared this info with you? 

T5: If you had genetic testing what reaction did you have when you learned you had or did not have a BRCA mutation? 

Read more about these genetic connections on the FORCE website at:
https://www.facingourrisk.org/understanding-brca-and-hboc/information/hereditary-cancer/hereditary-genetics/basics/signs-of-hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.php#text

Learn more about genetic testing and the role of the genetic counselor on the NSGC site at:
http://aboutgeneticcounselors.com/

If you are a previvor, survivor, caregiver or you work with gyn cancer or breast cancer patients, we look forward to having you join us on Wednesday, September 11th at 9pmET!

See you then,

Dee
#gyncsm co-founder and co-moderator