Thanks to the hard work of US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL -20), on September 15, 2010 the House of Representatives voted in favor of a House Resolution to designate the last week of September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday of the month as National Previvor Day.
These celebrations raised awareness of hereditary cancer. This year awareness week began on Sunday, September 26th and Previvor Day was September 29th.
There is an organization for people with Hereditary Cancer issues called F.O.R.C.E. (Facing Our Risk Of Cancer Empowered) and they planned events to celebrate the first Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the first Previvor Day. To find more information on FORCE and local events in your area, contact F.O.R.C.E., the only national nonprofit organization devoted to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, at www.facingourrisk.org/ or toll free at 866-288-7475.
Their mission includes support, education, advocacy, awareness, and research specific to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. FORCE programs serve anyone with a BRCA mutation or a family history of cancer.
Wendy Unger is the Membership Relations Manager for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce.
