In some populations, as many as one in forty women, have certain alterations in their basic genetic code, commonly referred to as BRCA mutations. In the absence of risk reducing strategies, these women have as high as a ninety percent life time risk of developing breast cancer, and a forty percent life time risk of developing ovarian cancer. BRCA mutations are inherited, so this change in the genetic code may be passed from parents to children, putting future generations at risk.
The Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation (HBOC) is a community-oriented volunteer driven charity with a tripartite mission:
The Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation seeks to fulfill its mission by working in cooperation with university or hospital based programs in cancer genetics, oncology, surgery, gynecology and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation encourages families and their health care providers to become AWARE of their medical and disease histories and provides the resources to assess for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer risk.
The Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation provides women and their families, who are found to be at risk for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, the information and the professional support they need to cope with and ACT on their state.
The Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Foundation supports research that evaluates the outcomes of women with proven genetic risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as evaluation of different risk reducing modalities. HBOC equally supports basic science research related to the genetics of breast and ovarian cancer.
