Previvor
The meaning of the word "previvor" is a "survivor of a predisposition to cancer." Previvors are people living with an inherited mutation who have never been diagnosed with cancer.
The term includes people with an inherited mutation, a family history of cancer, or some other factor that increases their risk for cancer.
Previvors have medical options to manage their cancer risks.
These include:
- enhanced screening to find cancer early and at its most treatable stage.
- medications, lifestyle changes and other approaches to lowering cancer risk.
- surgery to remove organs at high risk before cancer develops.
- clinical research studies that are testing new ways to manage risk.
Celebrating Previvor Day!
Oct 2nd is Previvor Day, a time to recognize and honor those with an increased risk for cancer who have not had a cancer diagnosis. Fourteen years after the congressional resolution named National Previvor Day, we are working harder than ever to raise awareness of hereditary cancer.
Knowing family history and risk for cancer allows people to make life-saving medical decisions. FORCE has resources dedicated to previvors. Also, visit our partners at the CDC, who have created some extraordinary videos of previvors at high risk for breast cancer as part of their Bring Your Brave campaign.
Beyond the Diagnosis: Being a Previvor
Breast cancer previvors are those who have a known higher risk for the disease due to harmful genetic changes or family history but have not been diagnosed with breast cancer. For previvors, living with risk can be coupled with anxiety, feelings of isolation, guilt, and discomfort with where they fit into the breast cancer community. In this episode, young previvors share their experiences navigating risk management options, talking about their risk, and finding their voices.
This video can also be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTrMo-z0TXo
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