The support group for women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers will hold its meeting this Tuesday. The FORCE support group meets once every quarter from 4:30-6 p.m.in the Rees Skillern Cancer Institute’s Cancer Risk and Survivorship Center. Catherine Marcum, APN, AGACNP-BC, DNP, advanced practice nurse with training in clinical cancer genetics through the City of Hope, facilitates the group.
More than 2 million women in the United States may be at increased risk for these cancers because of their family history, according to Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE). Hereditary cancers mean someone is born with changes or mutations in certain genes which normally protect against cancer. These changes are usually inherited from a parent and can increase the risk for cancers in different parts of the body.
The Rees Skillern Cancer Institute’s Cancer Risk and Survivorship Center offers cancer risk counseling to help people understand better how their family history of cancer might affect their individual risk of developing cancer. Specially trained staff will assist you in finding accurate information about your cancer risk and answer your questions. They will explain how that information relates to you individually and address testing for cancer genes, when appropriate.
If you would like more information on cancer risk counseling or the FORCE support group, or to schedule an appointment, call (423) 495-2258.