National Hereditary Cancer Week (NHCW) and National Previvor Day are opportunities to shine the light on hereditary cancer, impart knowledge and save lives. Add your voice to our #1FORCECommunity, so we can make a difference together!

This year, National Hereditary Cancer Week is September 25 – October 1, and National Previvor Day is September 28.It has been 12 years since Congress unanimously passed a resolution (H. Res. 1522) establishing the first-ever National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day in September 2010. Three years ago, FORCE renamed the week to ensure that all people affected by hereditary cancer are recognized and supported.

National Hereditary Cancer Week is a time to acknowledge and honor everyone with a genetic mutation that increases their cancer risk, as well as the families and caregivers that support them. This includes people with Lynch syndrome or an inherited mutation in BRCA1/2, ATM, BRIP1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, RAD51C/D or other gene associated with hereditary cancer. If you are a hereditary cancer survivor, previvor, caregiver or family member, this week is about honoring you and sharing information to help others who may be at an increased risk.  

- FORCE-Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

* Cancer previvors are individuals who have a predisposition to cancer but who haven’t yet had the disease. This group includes people who carry a proven inherited mutation, have a family history of cancer that defines them as high risk, or have another predisposing factor. The term specifically applies to the portion of our community that has its own unique needs and concerns separate from the general population, but is different from those already diagnosed with cancer. A previvor is a person who has an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer due to a family history of cancer. – HBOC Society

Resources:

• Family Cancer Syndromes (ACS)  www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/family-cancer-syndromes.html
• FORCE https://www.facingourrisk.org/
• Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/diseases-by-category/28/hereditary-cancer-syndromes
• Hereditary Cancer Syndromes (UTSW) https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/genetics-and-hereditary-cancers/hereditary-cancer-syndromes/