Cristi Radford, MS, CGC

In 2010, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered successfully spearheaded passage of a congressional resolution declaring the first-ever National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week. This also included National Previvor Day, an important step in giving an identity to individuals who have a strong family history and/or a gene mutation that places them at high risk for cancer but who do not have a cancer diagnosis. Previvors have unique needs and concerns that are separate from the general population as well as from individuals already diagnosed with cancer, and should be encouraged to connect with one another.

Here is new information pertaining to this disease site for genetic testing and practice guidelines.

In March, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for genetic/familial high-risk assessment for breast and ovarian cancers were updated. Among the updates is a section on “gene panels.”