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Like many women, I have long family history of breast and ovarian cancer. Nervous about my own chances of developing one or both of these diseases, I underwent testing for the BRCA gene in my early twenties.  I learned that I have a BRCA mutation that makes me at very high risk for both breast and ovarian cancer. After starting a family, I decided it was time to be proactive about my health. In 2015, at the age of 33 and after the birth of my two beautiful  children (a happy healthy girl and boy), I chose to take the only route available to me for reducing my cancer risk. Like thousands of other BRCA positive women, I had surgery to remove my ovaries and also had a prophylactic double mastectomy. While I am happy to have my children and to have protected my health, I constantly say “I don’t want my daughter to have to go through the same surgeries I did.”  However, a BRCA gene mutation has a 50% chance of being passed down to my children and can be inherited by either of them (boy or girl).

Who is working on changing the prevention options for future generations?  

Two years ago I connected with Joi Morris from HeritX and learned about HeritX’s mission to develop a preventive therapy for inherited cancer.  I fell in love with HeritX’s vision and mission. Over the past two years I have watched the dedication and commitment of the HeritX team to making change.

It is time to focus on research that will create a future where a vaccine or oral medication will prevent cancer for the next generation.

HeritX’s mission is to find a preventive therapy for inherited cancer—and ultimately other cancers— using the BRCA gene mutation as the key.  Please join me in supporting this important work!

Tracy Posner