We’re excited to share that Dr. Mary-Claire King will be our keynote speaker at the Rivkin Center’s 12th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium. Dr. King first discovered BRCA1, the breast and ovarian cancer gene, in 1990. Her work on BRCA1
In addition to genetics and family history, environment plays a role in breast and ovarian cancer risk. Here are 5 lifestyle behaviors that have been scientifically shown to reduce your risk of ovarian and breast cancer: Be Physically Active —
The Mother’s Day Dash on Sunday, May 13th in Shelton, WA hosted by the Conklin family raised nearly $5,000 in the fight against ovarian cancer. The Dash is a 4 mile run/walk community fundraising event for the Swedish SummeRun &
Meet an Ambassador The Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer’s Education program provides free health education workshops across the west coast. Rivkin education campus ambassadors are the feet-on-the-ground representatives at colleges for the Rivkin Center, helping set up workshops, identify opportunities
Our CanCan parties are a fun, frank way to educate women on ovarian and breast cancer risks and symptoms. They also serve as an opportunity to bust those pesky cancer myths that continue to circulate (but have little or no scientific backing).
The Rivkin Center’s Rivkin Education Program The Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer’s Rivkin Education program provides free health education workshops. Rivkin Education facilitators are cancer survivors who share their in an effort to educate women about their breast and ovarian
PARP inhibitors represent an important new class of anticancer agents that are having a major impact on ovarian cancer treatment. These drugs target vulnerabilities in DNA damage response and repair pathways especially in cancer cells that have defects in BRCA
You don’t have to be a scientist or doctor to help end breast and ovarian cancer. Every contribution counts — no matter how big or small. Here are three ways you can make a positive impact on the advancement of
As one of the largest private funders of ovarian cancer research, we’re excited to announce the awardees of this year’s pilot and scholar research grants. Over 170 applications poured in from around the world. Fourteen were chosen. Why is funding
When Susun Livingston learned she had an advanced stage of ovarian cancer in 2001, her life changed forever. During her clinical trial treatment, Susun heard about the SummeRun & Walk for ovarian cancer and decided to walk the course no
Talking to your family and identifying cancer in your family tree can be a good indicator of your health risks. Download our Family Tree Worksheet here. Be sure to include yourself, children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
Ready to take action? Knowledge is power. Take this short quiz to be proactive about your health.
Our bodies are made of many tiny building blocks called cells. Our cells contain a copy of our genome – all of the DNA genetic code we inherited from our parents. Our genome is organized into 46 chromosomes, 23 inherited from mom and 23 from dad. Each chromosome has hundreds or thousands of genes. Each gene has the instructions to make a protein that may control the structure or function of cells, can determine many things including how tall we are or the color of our eyes. Genes also contain instructions for many things inside of us that we cannot see, such as how our bones are formed or how our heart works. Each gene is made up of molecules called nucleic acids (A, T, C, and G). The specific sequence of the nucleic acids holds the instructions that control all the components and their functions in cells.
If the DNA sequence is changed, like a spelling mistake, the instructions may not make sense. The technical term for this change is “mutation,” meaning there is a change to the usual genetic code that may change the instructions stored in the gene. A mutation in a gene that repairs DNA damage or controls cell growth can increase the risk of developing cancer.
Ovarian and breast cancer can be either sporadic or hereditary. Sporadic cancers make up the vast majority (85-90%) of ovarian and breast cancers and are not associated with family history of either cancer or inherited cancer-associated mutations. Sporadic cancers arise from genetic mutations acquired in some cells of the body by events part of normal metabolism and environmental factors. This type of cancer can happen to anyone. Most acquired gene mutations are not shared among relatives or passed on to children.
Hereditary (also known as inherited, or familial) cancers are those that occur due to genetic mutations that are inherited from mom or dad. Other blood relatives may also share these same gene mutations. Parents give one copy of each gene to their children. If a parent has a genetic mutation in a gene, each of their children have a 50% chance of inheriting that mutation. Therefore, even in families with hereditary cancer, not all family members inherit the mutation that is causing cancer, and their risk of cancer is similar to the average person in the general population. Individuals who are suspected to have a family history with high incidence of ovarian, breast, and other cancers may be offered genetic testing to try to find the specific genetic mutation that may put them at risk. Importantly, individuals who do not have a known genetic mutation but have high incidence of ovarian, breast, or other cancers in their families are still considered at higher risk for developing those cancers.
Hereditary cancers often occur at an earlier age than the sporadic form of the same cancer, so experts often recommend starting cancer screening at a younger age for individuals at high risk for hereditary cancer. Hereditary cancers can also be more aggressive than the sporadic form of the same cancer. Individuals who have inherited a gene mutation may be at a higher risk for more than one type of cancer.
The genes that are most commonly involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) are BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes are named for their link to breast (BR) cancer (CA), but they are also linked to ovarian cancer risk as well as other cancers. Both women and men can inherit mutations in these HBOC genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes that have a usual role in our body of providing instructions on repairing DNA damage and preventing cancer. When a family has an inherited mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, this leads to an increase in cancer risk. Not every man or woman who has inherited a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene will develop cancer, but people who have a mutation do have a significanlty increased chance of developing cancer, particularly cancer of the breasts or ovaries.
While breast and ovarian cancers are the most common cancers diagnosed in people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, the risk of some other cancers is also increased. Men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of early-onset prostate cancer than men without mutations in either gene. Other cancers seen at increased rates, particularly in individuals with BRCA2 mutations, include pancreatic cancer and melanoma. Researchers are continuing to find new genes that are involved in hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer so it is important to follow up with a genetic counselor on a regular basis if hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is likely in your family.
Talk to your family about your health history and take the Assess Your Risk quiz here
