Something big did happen!  On September 15, 2010 congress passed legislation designating the last week of September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday of the month as National Previvor Day.  I’m a little late in mentioning it, I was so caught up in the moment(s).

This legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.   “Of all the cancers that affect women, roughly 10 percent of cases are caused by genetic factors. Though this percentage is relatively small, the risk for this group is huge,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. “Women with hereditary risk factors for breast cancer carry an 85 percent lifetime risk of developing the disease.”

Hereditary Cancer syndrome describes an inherited gene mutation that increases the risk for one or more types of cancer. The main hereditary breast and ovarian syndromes are caused by mutations in one of two genes: BRCA1 or BRCA2, which substantially increase the risk for breast and ovarian cancer, and slightly increase the risk for other cancers.

For women with a hereditary risk of cancer, it often strikes at an earlier age, when they are less likely to expect it, but when the cancer is often more aggressive and deadly. These young women with a heightened genetic risk are known as previvors – individuals who are survivors of a pre-disposition to cancer, but who haven’t had the disease.

I’m so proud to have been a part of the Previvor movement from the very beginning.   It’s simply amazing!  Here’s to next years 2nd annual National Previvor Day.  I can’t wait!

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