Does cancer run in your family?

Sandy Cohen is VP, Volunteer Programs for FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. In this blog post she discusses the importance of knowing one’s family medical history to understand if cancer runs in the family, as well as an exciting awareness event on May 31, 2012.

After losing my 38-year-old grandmom and 54-year-old mom to breast cancer, I grew up believing that breast cancer was undoubtedly in my future. Today, I feel extremely fortunate that I discussed my family’s health history with the doctors at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. They assessed my risk and provided me information about how to reduce it. I believe that the potentially life-saving information they shared with me is a true gift, and I would like to share some of it with you.

How do you know if cancer runs in your family?

Look at your family (both on your mom and dad’s side) and see if you or any family member has had:

• Ovarian or fallopian tube cancer at any age
• Breast cancer at age 50 or younger
• Breast cancer in both breasts at any age
• Both breast and ovarian cancer
• Male breast cancer

Also, look to see if more than one family member on the same side of the family has had any of these cancers:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian or fallopian tube cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Pancreatic cancer

If any of these apply to you, I encourage you to seek guidance and support from a genetic counselor at Penn's MacDonald Cancer Risk Evaluation Center,  join our local group www.facingourrisk.org/philadelphia and join us for this special event to learn more.

Celebrate the Women in Your Life - An Exclusive Movie Screening of “FIVE”

Cancer survivors, previvors, family, friends and the general public are invited to enjoy a fun evening of drinks, hors d'oeuvres, desserts and fabulous raffle prizes while mingling and watching this incredible movie "FIVE."

Jennifer Aniston on the set of FIVE

Directed by Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore and Alicia Keys and starring Jeanne Tripplehorn, this groundbreaking original movie is an anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people's lives. "FIVE" will make you laugh and cry, and it will remind you to celebrate all the women you love!

Time: 6:30 to 9 PM
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2012
Location: Smilow Center for Translational Research (adjacent to the Perelman Center), 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Registration: --> www.facingourrisk.org/RSVPPhila  
Cost: FREE ($25 suggested donation)


In addition, Catrina and Nicole Armstrong, Susan Domchek, MD, Carlette Knox, Beth Weiner Pfeiffer and Annette Ramke will be honored for their incredible help in raising awareness, sharing hope and making a difference to so many in the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer community.

Any questions, please contact  sandrac@facingourrisk.org .

Support for this event is generously provided by Mariann and Robert MacDonald.

FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Founded in 1999, FORCE provides serves thousands of families with support, education, advocacy, awareness and research specific to the needs of this community. For more information, please visit www.facingourrisk.org and visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FORCE to interact with the FORCE community.

Learn about the Basser Research Center for BRCA1&2.