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Julia Thomas

Majoring in nursing, Julia aspires to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. Currently, she is gaining work experience with patients at her University’s hospital. Julia’s passion for educating women comes from conversations within her own circle of women who are in need of learning how to know their bodies. She recognizes all the ways strong women […]

Audrey Sutton

Majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Child Development, Audrey is on the pre-med track. Audrey is Inspired by the kindness and support of strong women who have changed her life and feels passionate about the advocacy and education towards women’s wellness and loves the hands-on impact that Rivkin provides. Audrey loves her role […]

Samantha Huang

Sam is a junior at the University of Washington majoring in Public Health Global Health Nutritional Sciences. In her future, she hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in oncology. Sam is passionate about educating others on the importance of early detection and prevention for women’s health. In her free time, Sam enjoys […]

Hannah Flaig

Hannah Flaig is a sophomore at Washington State University studying biology on the pre-med track. Her personal experiences witnessing the healthcare environment as inspired her to pursue the attendance of medical school and work for a career within the surgical field. She is passionate about the general welfare of all people and is greatly motivated within the […]

Kira Sterling

Kira is a junior at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and Computer Science. At school, she is a part of the Sage Mentorship Project, is involved with the Berkeley chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association, and works as a research assistant in a public health lab studying the […]

Emma Steele

Emma Steele

Emma is a senior at University of Washington majoring in Public Health-Global Health. On campus, Emma is a part of Zeta Tau Alpha and has served on both the social team and philanthropy team, planning events for both. She hopes to work in global health policy and is passionate about making women’s health accessible for all. […]

Sprince Arbogast

Sprince is a breast cancer survivor, reporter, and mother of three. With no family history, and a recent mammogram,  her cancer was found early hiding under a raised mole on her breast.  Upon diagnosis, Sprince grabbed her investigative reporter’s hat and started researching all her options. Following a lumpectomy, with the guidance of her doctor, […]

Maddy Agranoff

Maddy is a Rivkin Education instructor from Seattle, Washington. She graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Health Education. When not instructing, Maddy works at the Swedish Cancer Institute as an education program coordinator where she connects patients with supportive care resources and cancer education. She is a […]

Sarah Brown

Sarah is a Rivkin Health Instructor from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Currently based in Seattle, Washington; Sarah also works as a nurse in Intensive Care. Sarah is passionate about providing quality healthcare to people from all walks of life. She is grateful that working with Rivkin allows her to empower women all over the country to […]

Sam Burgess

My name is Samantha Burgess, but I go by Sam. I graduated from the University of Washington in 2018 with a Bachelors of Art in Medical Anthropology and a minor in Nutritional Science, and in 2021 with my Bachelors of Science in Health Education and Health Promotion from Arizona State University. I currently hold a […]


Talk to your Family

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.

Get Educated

Know your body and be proactive about your health. Learn about your breast and ovarian health. Learn about the risk factors and signs & symptoms for breast and ovarian cancer.

Trusted Healthcare Provider

Having a relationship with a health care provider you know and trust is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about your health care. Click here to find a provider

Higher Risk in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

In the general population, around 1 in 400 people carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. People of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry have a 1 in 40 chance of carrying a BRCA mutation, making them 10 times as likely to carry a BRCA mutation as someone in the general population. Whether you’re a man or a woman, if you have a BRCA mutation then there is a 50% chance of passing the mutation on to your children, whether they are boys or girls. It’s important to note that these mutations significantly increase risk, but are not a guarantee a person will get cancer.

Why is the Ashkenazi Jewish population at higher risk?

Over 90% of the BRCA mutations found in the Jewish community are one of three “founder mutations”. A founder mutation is a specific gene mutation in a population that was founded by a small group of ancestors that were geographically or culturally isolated. Because the population was isolated, the rate of founder mutations in descendants is much higher than it would be if the population were larger and co-mingling with more genetically diverse populations. A large expansion in the population caused the current high frequency of the mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. If you are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, the chance of carrying a BRCA gene mutation compared to the general population is increased tenfold. BRCA mutations can be passed down from either your mother’s or father’s side, and may be associated with any of the following cancers:
  • Breast cancer
  • Ovarian cancer, fallopian tube, peritoneal cancer
  • Male breast cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Colon Cancer

Ready to take action? Knowledge is power. Take this short quiz to be proactive about your health.

Genes 101

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.

Sporadic vs Hereditary Cancers:

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.

BRCA 1 and BRCA 2: Most Common hereditary breast and ovarian 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

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