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The majority of cancer occurs by chance.  In about 5-10% of cases, the cancer is hereditary and the risks are higher.  Individuals with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer are born with a gene change that leads to an increased chance for developing cancer and can be passed down through generations in the family.  Many  hereditary breast and ovarian cancers are associated with mutations in two genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2.  These mutations can also increase the risk of prostate cancer.


If an individual has a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, each of his or her children has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation and therefore is at increased risk for these cancers.  Although males may not have the same cancer risks as females, fathers can still carry a gene mutation that may be passed on to their children.  Genetic tests are available for mutations in these genes.  If a parent does not have a mutation their children cannot inherit it from them.

The HBOC Society provides information to anyone concerned about their risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

TESTING

 If you are concerned about your family history of cancer, you can ask your doctor for a referral to a genetics clinic.  A genetic counselor can help to determine if genetic testing for hereditary cancer will be helpful to your family.  It is important to know who in your family has had cancer, what type of cancer, and how old they were when they were first diagnosed.  Hereditary cancers tend to occur at earlier ages than sporadic cancers.  Talk to family members if necessary to get the facts. 

 

The design, development, and distribution of the following materials were funded by the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit – Community Initiatives Program

 On-line access to this booklet was made possible by a donation from HBOC Member Jackie Swindlehurst, in memory of her Aunt Irene Rhodes

 

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Brochure
   
Fact Sheet
   
Postcard
   
 
HBOC Support Group Information 
   
CONFERENCES / SEMINARS / MEDIA:




Watch this site for information about
the HBOC Society's annual conference

 


 

 

Young Survivor's Coalition Annual Conference.  February 26 – Sunday, February 28, 2010 Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.  Atlanta. GA

Hamilton Ontario, Canada will play host to the 6th world conference World Conference on Breast Cancer to be held on June 7-11 in 2011. The 2011 theme is TRANSCENDING THE BREAST CANCER EXPERIENCE: A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

 

 


 

 

LINKS

 

 Facebook (search hereditary breast and ovarian cancer OR BRCA1/2)
 Alberta Breast Cancer Program www.albertabreast.com
Be Bright Pink
Breast Cancer .org

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation www.cbcf.org

Canadian Breast Cancer Network www.cbcn.ca

Canadian Cancer Society www.cancer.ca

Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control www.cancercontrol.org

CBCRA (Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance www.breast.cancer.ca

CBCRA Open Access Archive https://researchspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807.1/1

Current Oncology Patient Support www.currentoncology.com

Facing our Risk of Cancer Empowered www.facingourrisk.org

Genetic Health www.genetichealth.com

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation (Quebec) www.hboc.ca

National Ovarian Cancer Association (NOCA) www.ovariancanada.org

National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute of Health (U.S.)   http://www.genome.gov/10000507
 National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institute of Health  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA
Ovarian Cancer Canada www.ovariancancercanada.ca

Resources For Women - Ovarian Cancer www.resourcesforwomen.com/ovariancancer.htmwww.youngsurvival.org
Rethink Pink http://www.rethinkbreastcancer.com/

Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation www.dslrf.org

Young Survival Coalition  http://www.youngsurvival.org/
 

LIBRARY

The HBOC Society Library holds useful information that can assist you in your decision whether or not to have testing and support you in whatever you decide afterwards.  Many of the recommended reading selections below are available in our library for members.


2008  Pretty Is What Changes: Impossible Choices, the Breast Cancer Gene, and How I Defied My Destiny. Jessica Queller
2007  Apron Strings: Inheriting Courage, Wisdom and…Breast Cancer (www.apronstringsbook.com). Diane Tropea Greene
2004 Am I Next in Line? (See website at w.aminextinline.com) Monique Achtman

2004 Bearing Up with Cancer: life, and living with... Dr. Annie Smith

2003 Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart. Alan D. Wolfelt
2003 An ovarian cancer companion. Diane Sims Roth

2003 Ovarian cancer: your guide to taking control .Kristine Conner, and Lauren Langford

2001    Reconstructing Aphrodite. Photographs by Terry Lorant

2000 Assess your true risk of cancer. Patricia T. Kelly

1999 Past imperfect: how tracing your family medical history can save your life. Carol Daus

1998 A woman's decision: breast care, treatment & reconstruction. Karen J. Berger, and John Bostwick

1998  Living in the postmastectomy body: learning to live in and love your body again. Rebecca L. Zuckweiler

1997 In control: making the most of the genetic tests for breast cancer .Neil F. Sharpe

1995 Letters from motherless daughters: words of courage, grief, and healing Edited with an introduction by Hope Edelman

1994 Motherless daughters: the legacy of loss .Hope Edelman

1991 Spinning straw into gold: your emotional recovery from breast cancer .Ronnie Kaye

1989 It's Always Something .Gilda Radner