Wasserman Schultz Resolution to Designate National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week Passes House Unanimously

(Washington, DC) – Today, in a unanimous show of support, the House of Representatives voted in favor of a House Resolution sponsored by Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) 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.

“Of all the cancers that affect women, roughly 10 percent of cases are caused by genetic factors. Though this percentage is relatively small, the risk for this group is huge,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.  “Women with hereditary risk factors for breast cancer carry an 85 percent lifetime risk of developing the disease.”

Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, herself a survivor of breast cancer, worked together with her colleagues in the House and non-profit organizations including Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), Bright Pink, and the Young Survival Coalition to craft the resolution. 

“National Previvor Day and Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, which bridges September’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will bring added public awareness to the risks for genetic cancers,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz said speaking on the floor of the House on behalf of her Resolution.

“Hereditary Cancer syndrome” describes an inherited gene mutation that increases the risk for one or more types of cancer.  The main hereditary breast and ovarian syndromes are caused by mutations in one of two genes: BRCA1 or BRCA2, which substantially increase the risk for breast and ovarian cancer, and slightly increase the risk for other cancers.

For women with a hereditary risk of cancer, it often strikes at an earlier age, when they are less likely to expect it, but when the cancer is often more aggressive and deadly.  These young women with a heightened genetic risk are known as previvors – individuals who are survivors of a pre-disposition to cancer, but who haven’t had the disease.            

The hope is that the designations will give voice to women that have hereditary risk factors for cancer and brings awareness to the risks of hereditary cancer.