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The week of September 24-October 1 is National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week.

In 2010, Congress passed a resolution creating the first National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week thanks to the efforts of the organization FORCE- Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered.

It was created to raise awareness of inherited, hereditary cancers. Hereditary genetics can show a predisposition for various cancers including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. It draws attention to the importance of hereditary cancer screenings for the possible presence of these genetic mutations.

It is observed in the last week of September, bridging the gap between the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month of September and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

For more information on National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, contact FORCE; Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, the originators of the awareness week at http://www.facingourrisk.org/get-involved/events/special-event.php.

Also, for more information about Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC), read http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.